The Baby Boomers and Generation X'ers have created a phenomenon. We now have a generation who is desperate for love. So many of our young adults and their children have grown up in broken homes. Thirty years ago, I met my first set of grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. This year, I met my first set of great-grandparents who are raising their great-grandchildren. It's tragic. I've never seen so many young people who are seriously craving love and affection.
Tonight, I'm addressing those young people:
We've let you down. I'm so sorry some of you are growing up the way you are. Some of you are raising your siblings and are even having to parent your own parents. I'm sorry you're having to openly ask the responsible adults around you for hugs--because those at home are incapable of doing it. I'm sorry you go to bed hungry at times or have to dig in the dirty clothes pile for something to wear. I'm sorry there is no one instructing you about the important things of life. I'm sorry you're so angry because you feel so alone, abandoned, and rejected. I'm sorry there are nights you cry yourself to sleep wondering if anyone loves you. It's breaking my heart to think about it!
Can I tell you a wonderful secret? God loves you completely--just like you are!! You don't have to jump through hoops for him to love you. Come to Him--because He's waiting with His arms wide open to receive you and fill your hungry heart with love. He loves you fully, completely, totally, and wonderfully. He's created you in His image. And that hole in your heart? It's God-sized and He's the only one who can fill it! Just tell Him that you want Him to come into your heart and tell Him that you want to give yourself completely to Him--sin and all. And then He'll clean your heart and make you His very own--just like that! He delights in you!!
Did you know God won't allow anyone else to fill that God-sized hole in our hearts? (Even those of us who grew up in healthy homes.) Not a boyfriend, not a girlfriend, not a daddy, not a mama, not a husband, or a wife? God is a jealous God. He wants to completely meet every need we have. He wants to fully heal those places that are hurting; those hurts your parents may have caused. He wants to talk to you and tell you how great you are. He wants to whisper sweet-nothings in your ear. He LOVES you. And He wants to tell you how much.
So what I'm trying to say is this: don't be so quick to run into a boy's or girl's arms. Don't tell them, "I love you" too quickly. I know you want someone to love you. I know you want a happy marriage. But first...you need to let God heal your wounded heart. First, you need to know HIS love. First, you need to know what love looks like by letting God kiss your heart and make it alive and well. No boy or girl can do what God can do. And it will take time for your heart to heal. After all, it wasn't damaged overnight.
And after you know and delight in God's love? Then you're either ready to meet the one God has for you to date, and then, marry...or you'll be perfectly content to spend the rest of your life just basking in God's love.
Dating--Part 1 "Dating Standards"
Dating--Part 2 "Signs of a Bad Date"
Coming up: Dating--Part 4 "What a Guy Wants"
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