Living Hope

I was born in to a dysfunctional family. Maybe you were, too. If not, I'm glad for you. If so, I empathize with you.

My father was abusive in many ways fathers shouldn't be. And my mother? Well, she was a maternal narcissist. Both treated me in ways children shouldn't be treated by their parents. Both caused much trauma to me, starting practically from the time I was born.

As a child, I didn't see the dysfunction. Now, as an adult, I see it. I see it and wonder why both of my parents had to be abusive. Not only were my parents abusive and dysfunctional, but my sister as well. It hurts to realize that all three members of my immediate family abused me in multiple ways, and as a result, I don't have a relationship with any of them.

It's easy to think that I'm alone and to give in to the feelings of anger and immense sorrow over all that has been lost. I was working through some Scriptures regarding my identity in Christ when I came across 1 Peter 1:3:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"....

I've often wished that I had been born to different parents, to ones who loved me unconditionally and who didn't abuse me, keeping me safe, instead. When I read this verse, I realized that I've been given just that through Christ Jesus.

I have been born to a Parent Who loves me unconditionally and Who never abuses me. In fact, He hates abuse. He keeps me safe (1 John 5:18 says so). He is the best Parent I could ever want. I have been given new birth into a living hope. In the family I grew up in, I had no hope. So often I felt hopeless. But now, in this new family I've been born into, I have not just hope, but living hope. This is a hope that will never disappoint.

I could spend time wishing I'd been born to safer parents, but the truth is that even if I had been, they still would have disappointed me. But this Parent, the One Who gave His very Son so that I could have life and hope and everything I never had with my earthly parents, He will never ever disappoint me. I never could count on my earthly parents, but I can count on Him.

I have a new birth into a living hope. And I am never alone.