His love heals.
I was in the car with my support team and greatest friends on an exciting trip to Atlanta, to speak at passion city church college night on May 31st. We were just a mile away from where we needed to be and stuck in a little traffic, when I looked over and locked eyes with a homeless man. Immediately when I locked eyes with this older African American gentleman, I felt the Lord say in my Spirit, “go put my word in His reach and then you will understand how I feel.” I asked the guy who was driving to turn the car around and drop me off where the man was sitting. All I had to give was my bible, so I began to walk up to this man and I knelt down on his level. When our eyes locked, I realized something. Physically you can be worlds apart from someone, but spiritually you can be in the exact same place.
I feel like many of us can relate to the image and posture of shame that this man embodied on that day. I have enough sense to know that man did not just wake up one day on the ground homeless. Feeling lifeless. Feeling hopeless. Alone. Unworthy of love. A series of events had to of taken place for him to be where he is. Maybe today you woke up to a home and a family, and you look like your standing – but you actually feel like you are sinking, and have an overwhelming feeling of isolation. The posture of your heart may feel similar to the image of this man, on the heat of a Georgia day who did not feel worthy of change.
I walked up to this man and simply put my bible out in his reach and said, “hi, I’m Sadie. I know this is probably not what you are wanting, but I want to give you this. It means everything to me and I would really like it if you would have it.” He looked at me a little shocked at first and kindly said, “no ma’am I’m so sorry, but I cannot take that.” I said, “oh sure you can! I would love for you to have it.” tears began to swell up in his eyes and he said, “I’m really sorry ma’am I just cannot take it.” once again I pressed on and began to tell him how It has all my notes in it, and how it has changed my life, but he cut me off and very harshly with a stern voice said, “NO! I cannot take that, because I am an atheist.” I said I would respect that, but again stated to him how badly I wish he would just take it from me.
Tears swelled for both of us and he shook his head no. I started walking back to the car, and I was honestly very confused by the response and the feeling I had. Right before I got back in the car, I turned around and set my bible on the curb and said, “I’m just going to leave it here.” He began to get up and yelled, “NO! Don’t leave it on the ground! Please don’t leave it on the ground!” I said, “oh do you want it?” he said, “no but just don’t leave it on the ground.” I looked at him so confused and said, “tell me why you don’t want me to leave this book on the ground, because if you were an atheist you really would not care what I did with this book.” He began to cry and said, ‘because someone needs that. It just cannot be me. Give it to someone who will take it.”
That is when my heart broke and I began to sob, because I felt the Lord breathe in my spirit… “This is how I feel.” We believe that there is hope for everyone else, but we could not possible to worthy of accepting belonging, and shame isolates us from the feeling of love. We allow the worldly cycle of sin in our life produce a load of shame, and that brings us to the state of isolation, homeless, hopeless and lifelessness. Jesus came and defeated death, and gave us the gift of life – and an invitation into an eternal heaven, invited out of the darkness of the world and into an eternal wonderful light. In an instance, by accepting Him in and receiving His great love, we go from being homeless to having a forever home. We go from being hopeless to having a hope for a future. We go from being lifeless to having life abundantly and eternally. We go from being isolated and feeling alone, to belonging to a heavenly family and a good good father.
You may be like the homeless man, not feeling worthy of accepting His love – but the thing is, He gave His life and gives us mercy not because of anything we have done or could have done to deserve it, but because of His great love and ridiculous grace. If you are the one sitting in the pit of shame, it is time to rise up and pursue Jesus.
In Mark chapter 5, we find an example of what can happen when you change your posture from shame to pursuit – all from a woman who was struggling from a long-term issue. She had suffered from bleeding for 12 years. It says that this woman went to see many doctors, and spent all that she had yet instead of getting better her issue just got worse. Some of you may feel like this. You have struggled with the same thing for years and years to come, and tried many options, but instead of getting better it has just gotten worse. Now you’re at a point where you have almost given up, because the suffering has become unbearable. I want to tell you right now…no matter what it is you are suffering from or how many options you have tried that didn’t work, or how many years you have been in the thick of it – there is an option left and His name is Jesus, and He has never lost a battle.
He responds to a pursuit of faith. It took this woman breaking through the cycle of shame, and pushing through pain. She had to boldly go into a public place with her condition, but to her…it was all worth it. She thought to herself, “If I could just touch His clothes, then maybe I would be healed.” It says, “Immediately when she touched His clothes she was healed.”
Priscilla Shier says, “all Gods promises are yes and amen, but God doesn’t just put them in your way, but He will put them in your reach.”
Maybe it is time for you to take off the weight of fear, addiction, pain, guilt and shame. Rise up and go out of your normal, worldly way to pursue your heavenly father. This woman was the first woman in the four gospels that Jesus ever called daughter. A woman who was isolated from her community, who felt lifeless, hopeless, and unloved. In an instant, she was healed and redeemed, and her life was restored. She belonged to a Father. She walked away that day in peace – free from her suffering, because that is how Jesus sent her off. It may be time for a posture change. The only thing stopping you from going to the homeless man, to the healed woman is a pursuit and an ounce of faith. It was by hher faith that she was healed.
Amazing Sadie. I am continually amazed by your spirit and depth. God Bless you!
I’m so thankful ive been added to receive your blogs and emails. I’ve been going through alot lately and this really gave me hope and opened my eyes. You are an amazing person Sadie ♡
Sadie,
You are such an inspiration and keep spreading the love of Jesus.
When I started watching your videos I rembered u but it’s not the point you inspired me to read the bible more and go to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I just want to say thank you.
-lexie
I heard this story in person on the Live Orginal Tour in Warner Robins this year. WOW! It still brings tears to my eyes reading it a second time – the message it gives is so empowering!!!! Jesus is SO good 🙂
-Taylor
Wow! What a story! This post is so good and inspiring!!
U are very well raised by ur very awesome parents. U are very wonderful spiri beautiful young lady. Keep going!!! ?
This is exactly what I needed to share with s friend of mine. I was unsure on how to preach it but this did it in a way that i think they might finally understand what needs to be done. Thank you!
Such a great way to look at our life as children of God. We struggle with the same things over and over and we become overwhelmed and defeated forgetting that our Lord is constant. An amazing story about how our spirituality could be the same as another broken persons even though we may not appear to be broken.
it’s amazing of how the lord can speak to you and how you feel that passion inside you when you see and hear what he has to say. He is truly marvelous and wonderful, I’m trying to press pass my fear in my life to make me overcome my obstacles to be a better person., I’m mean look around he made everything to the mountains to the seas. Love your tattoo by the way.
Wow what A post I am only 13 and I just lost my grandpa yesterday it has been very hard bc I loved him so much I hope u see this bc man did u really touch my heart just now? I always loved the watching duck dynasty when I was younger I was looked forward to wensday night when it come on I love that u are a Christian and I can look up to u I love u and ur family {keep going}
I am trying so hard to push past my fear, guilt and shame to have a better relationship with god. He is amazing. I just give up sometimes because I don’t know where to start or what to do. Hardy anyone around me are Christians and I feel like I’m doing it all on my own. Thank you for this. I hope one day I can look at life like you do and live my life like a true Christian.
Beautiful. Thank you so much for your words. Going thru this wordly life I often feel like that homeless man. This really helps put things into perspective.
I don’t know if you’ll read this, but this message spoke to my heart in many levels.I can’t even begin to tell you how baffled I am. It was like every word you wrote was a word God had intended just for me and my situation. As I read this I couldn’t help the overwhelming feelings turning into tears pooring down my face. For the first time in a long time, I can finally see exactly what God has been trying to say to me and help me through. To be quite honest, I had been going to the wrong place seeking help. I would always try and ask questions to other believers, because I thought it was right since they know God and they knew me. Truly God was trying to make me Dependant only on him this whole time, not really on other people’s judgments. it was right in front of me. I don’t have anymore questions, because I don’t need those answered, I just need exactly what you said,faith and pursuit. God blessed you with wise words to help me Sadie. I am so glad you decided to use your gift for his good. Now I want to do the same.
This really spoke to my heart, I am currently bawling my eyes out. Sadie you are such an inspiration of mine. God is truly amazing and i felt how you felt when I went on my first mission trip. It was hard, but God’s love was around me. Thank you for this Sadie!!
Needed this right in this moment. Thank you. ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing you heart Sadie. I admire you for your passion and strength. Keep sharing! <3
Wow, thank you for this amazing story. I’ve been struggling with some of the same feelings you described and this story and word brought it full circle for me. I can’t thank you enough ❤️
Nada nos puede apartar de tu amor, de ti Jesús
la obra completa está a mi favor por ti Jesús
First off, I really love the title of this blog post! I have heard you tell this story through YouTube and on your recent Live Original Tour, yet it never fails to give me goose bumps. Such a great story of encouragement and proof of God’s word that you can be restored no matter the troubles of your past.
Yes! Amen!!!
Sadie, you have shone a light into my life. I feel like im always in pain and just alone but i am not because of Jesus. Right now it is one o clock in the morning and im in bed with tears strolling down my face from reading your story. This story is a story that you would never think to happen. This is story is so so so life changing and it shines so much light into my life. That there is a way even when you dont think there is one. That after so long of feeling alone (yes i know its gonna take some time to really understands Gods grace and his love) that i am not that there is always somebody. thank you so much sadie, keep on doing the amazing things you for Gods glory!
In love with this! Thank you for this dose of inspiration and truth. I would really appreciate the support of this sisterhood in a project God placed in my heart. I recently published a blog: http://www.continuethelegacyoflove.com/devotionals , if you could check it out and let me know what you think I’ll be forever grateful. Lots of love, Melissa
This was AMAZING!!!!!!!
Thank you.
this is amazing i cant stop watching your videos you are truly inspiring. I am 17 years old and up until these last few weeks i have been looking at your videos and the way you preach and im growing much more love for jesus.
Very well said!