It was Christmas Eve, and I sat in my car, alone in the parking lot of the park I visited when I had nowhere else to go. That’s when I heard “I came for you.”

As I watched the house on the other side of the street, I smoked a mini cigar to numb the pain I felt inside. The house was lit with Christmas lights, and I watched people through the window as they talked, laughed, and enjoyed their Christmas Eve together. Although I didn’t know them, the sight of a happy family enjoying their Christmas Eve triggered the pain of rejection, which I had faced a lot recently. Tears trickled down my face. Soon, I couldn’t control them.

Earlier that year, I had been forced to leave my childhood home and figure out a way to provide for myself. I was eighteen and without a career or a college degree. Because of this experience, I knew rejected. Rejection told me I wasn’t good enough, no one wanted me, no one cared, and I wasn’t important. Sitting alone in my car the night before Christmas, I believed it.

As I sat and sobbed, I felt a peace sweep over me that I hadn’t felt much of in my life. I took a few breaths to calm myself, and I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “I came for you.”

As I pondered what I heard, I pictured Jesus coming from heaven and being born to save me. God sent His Son Jesus to rescue me. I wasn’t rejected by Him. He accepted me the way I was. Contrary to what rejection told me, I was good enough, wanted, cared for, and important to Him. Therefore, that’s all that mattered.

The way I spend Christmas Eve has drastically changed since that year, and I’m thankful. That encounter changed my life.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

~Matthew 1:23 NIV

The message God gave us thousands of years ago still applies. He came to save all of us and to bring light into the dark places of our souls. He came to bring peace to our hearts when we are in desperate situations. Christ came to counsel us when emotional pain triggers us. He is a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:6 NIV

My friend, if you find yourself alone on this Christmas Eve night, please know that you are not alone. Maybe you’ve experienced rejection as I did. Perhaps you’ve believed the lie that you aren’t good enough, that no one wants you, and that you’re not important. Nothing could be further from the truth. God came for you, He is with you, and He loves you. You are good enough, you are wanted, you are cared for, you are important to Him, and you never have to earn your Savior’s love. 

How does it make you feel knowing Jesus came for you to restore your peace?

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son for me. Holy Spirit, I invite You to bring Your light, peace, counsel, and love to the pieces of my heart that are hurting right now. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2020: I Came for You: Brandie J. Muncaster: All Rights Reserved