When we decided to start a Christ-centered blog, we knew nothing about how to create a website.
Much of the advice we found was geared toward people who are hoping to make a lot of money.
“Decide who your target audience will be” was standard advice.
We found ourselves re-evaluating our reasons for starting a blog. We had to ask ourselves some hard questions:
What kind of blog would the Lord have us start? What would the end result be? What would He want our motives to be?
Who is the “target audience” that He wants us to have?
We thought a lot about Jesus and His “target audience.”
The people He met on the side of the road. Or at a well in the middle of nowhere. The people whose cries rang in His ears.
The people who He stopped everything for, asking “Who touched me?”
We are two of those people. Are you one of them?
You are the reason we started this blog. We feel like we already know you.
We know that you are out there, somewhere. We know because we have been there, too.
Maybe you are like the blind man on the side of the road, crying out to Jesus for mercy.
You have been sitting on the sidelines, wanting so badly to be a part of this crowd who is following Jesus. You want to join them—but you feel that you just can’t, in this condition.
You lost your vision long ago, and it’s all you can think about.
You listen to the enthusiasm of the crowd. They don’t seem to notice you. It’s just one more painful instance of life passing you by.
The excitement grows, and you sense Jesus approaching nearer to where you are.
You feel disconnected and out of touch.
You cry out—so fearful that He also may pass you by. The crowd rebukes you, but you cry out even more.
You will not give up. You are desperate for your voice to reach Him, for His touch, and for your vision to be restored.
You are desperate to follow Him.
Maybe you are like the woman who went to the well, at a time of day when loneliness was guaranteed. You would rather bear the hottest part of the day than the stares, and the whispers.
Your life is a huge mess—some of it is your fault, and some of it the fault of others. Regardless, you are full of shame.
Your few attempts at friendships have been met with rejection.
You don’t feel worthy.
You have met Jesus, and have had some conversations. In fact, He has revealed some deep truths to you.
You feel the urge to follow Him, but there is something holding you back.
Making yourself vulnerable to people has almost always resulted in pain. Even though it seems like He accepts you, deep down you fear that He will hurt you, too.
And deep down, you fear that you aren’t good enough to serve Him.
The fear goes down deep, to the bottom of your inner well, and you put up those stone walls long ago.
Soon it becomes apparent that He is calling you. You are tired of disappointment. You are even more tired of being held back.
You desperately need this Living Water to fill you.
You know that until you let Him fill you, you’ll never really live.
And that scares you more than anything.
Maybe you are the woman with the issue of blood…or the leper…or the man at the pool of Bethesda.
Your life has been marred by suffering.
Everyone around you has failed to help, even with the best of intentions.
After a while, one by one, they have distanced themselves from you. They may still be present physically, but they are unable to empathize with you.
You feel utterly alone in your suffering.
And even though none of this is your fault, it’s hard not to feel ashamed.
You feel your life ebbing away as you watch others getting blessed. You’re always on the outside looking in, it seems.
You know that Jesus has the power to take away your suffering.
You’re afraid that He won’t. And strangely, sometimes you’re afraid that He will.
Deep down, you wonder if He even wants to.
You feel your faith ebbing away. You are determined to hold on to it.
You are determined to hold on to Him.
Despite the bitterness in your soul, you are driven to want whatever He wants.
Because you just can’t live like this anymore.
Maybe you are like the man who called himself “Legion.” You’ve declared yourself dead long ago.
Your mind is a torture chamber of self-loathing.
You know that you’re not really this person, but the real you is lost somewhere within.
Everyone has written you off. No one can see you.
You are losing sight of yourself. The destructive thoughts have become your very identity.
You hate who you have become.
You cry out in anguish and despair, but there is no one there to listen but you. You despise yourself for your weakness.
You want to harm yourself.
Jesus has approached you, and you are compelled to worship Him. But the thoughts still bind you, even stronger than your chains.
Deep within, you know that He has the power to set you free.
You are ready to throw yourself at His feet.
Even if it kills you.
Maybe you are like a bird, trapped in the snare of the fowler.
Fear holds on to your soul like a leather strap. It entangles you like a net.
Every effort to free yourself seems to entangle you even more. Some efforts have even left you wounded.
Long ago exhausted, there is no more fight left within you.
The Holy Spirit compels you, “Try—try one more time. You know that you aren’t supposed to end up like this.”
“You were born to fly.”
You know that you can’t truly live, unless you are free.
Despite your broken wings, you are determined to do what you were created to do.
You are the reason why we are writing this blog. Whether it is just one person reading this, or thousands.
We know there are countless others who are suffering, who feel
used, ashamed, rejected,
utterly disappointed,
desperate, stuck, and without purpose—
voiceless, ignored, misunderstood,
lonely, sidelined, and forgotten.
Do you feel your life has been wasted?
Do you wish you could do life over?
Have you lost sight of who you are?
Do you wonder if your faith has failed you?
Whether the course of your life has been altered by a tragic event,
or a terrible mistake,
or your dreams are shattered,
or you suffer from illness,
or you are haunted by your thoughts,
or, maybe you just hurt—and you don’t even know why.
You will fit in here.
Let’s go back to the blind man on the side of the road. We—as we write to you—are the ones who step out of the crowd, and approach you.
Our heartfelt plea can be summed up with the same words of encouragement given to the blind man,
“Be of good comfort, rise—he calleth thee.”
The blind man didn’t cave in to the rebuke of the crowd, telling him to keep quiet. Instead, he cried out all the more. He did not give up.
Don’t be discouraged by the noise of the crowd, who seem to have it all together. Don’t listen.
You are just the type of person Jesus needs.
If you desperately want His life, you know this deep down:
The purest and most powerful expression of this desire is your complete submission to Jesus Christ.
The God-intended outcomes—His Life flourishing within you, surrounding you, leading and guiding you—are a direct result of your submission to Jesus Christ.
Despite whatever your human soul desires, and no matter how tightly you cling
to the life you are hoping for, trying to have, or wish you had
and to the person you are hoping to be, trying to be, or wish you were—
if you know you must let go—
If you are desperate to let go—
Join us in our journey, as we learn about
- Rest and Strength
- Trust and Courage
- Vision and Purpose
Through the power of the resurrection life of Jesus, we have been released—to fly!
