Belonging longing

Before the age of 5, my parents divorced.  My mother abandoned us to our father and then when she returned, we never saw our father.  My sister says we lived in 26 different homes!  I used to have dreams that we moved and no one woke me up to bring me along.  I suppose that’s when I developed a huge case of “belonging longing”. 

So what is “belonging longing” anyway?  (I made it up btw)  My definition is “the need or want to belong somewhere or to someone”.   Its all I knew since I never settled down or called somewhere “home” until marriage.  Looking back, I never knew I had it.  But now, as I look back, my heart aches with memories of belonging longing.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God says:

  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”

I think the Israelites had a case of belonging longing too even though they were told by God Himself through His prophets that they belonged.  They had 40 years of wandering around you know.  Then what about the fall of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon?  Yep, sounds like belonging longing to me.

We are told by Paul in the Book of Ephesians that we belong and are CHOSEN:

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

So why didn’t they we get it?  Wait, I’ll take ownership of this – why don’t I get it?   Right here, it states in God’s Word, a cure for belonging longing - its God’s plan for me to belong to Him.  I am His Chosen- marked with His Seal – a possession of God Himself.

First off, I can’t expect or wait to “feel it” – its not a “feeling”.   I can’t expect my home, or my husband or even my adorable grandchildren to cure my belonging longing  (believe me, I have tried). It’s the Truth stated to us above - let’s read it again:

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

Every morning, when I wake up, THIS is what I need to recite – I need to know – I need to dwell upon (in my heart).  Not what my past reminds me, not what the world tells me or anyone else for that matter – but what God tells me in His Word – THE TRUTH. 

Jesus said it most perfectly (of course!) through John: “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.   So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

May my heart see . . .  the TRUTH of my belonging.