“Lost… and Found at the Cross” (Day 39)
Verse of the Day
“Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:4–5
I grew up surrounded by family. My grandmother held us together with strong love, and for a while, life felt full and secure. We moved from Washington, D.C. to Florida, and church became part of my rhythm. Faith was normal.
But slowly, things fell apart. We moved out from my grandmother’s home, and everything changed. My parents were gone working. The house grew chaotic—fighting, hoarding, and pain. I became known as the “fat dog kid” at school. Shame settled deep in me.
When I experienced terrifying sleep paralysis, I was told it was spiritual attack. Fear grew stronger than faith. So, I made a quiet decision: I walked away from God. And honestly, life seemed easier. The fear lessened. The pain eased. I believed I was better off on my own.
For years, I built my life around myself. I found success, money, and pride. But one by one, the people I loved slipped away—my father, my sister, and then my mother to cancer. I had everything, yet I could not save anyone.
When my mother died, something in me shifted. It felt like a covering lifted. I was exposed—grieving, empty, and undone.
Later, alone in Maine, broken in body and spirit, a friend came to me—someone I once brought to church. Now he loved Jesus. He stayed, listened, and slowly, my heart softened. I remembered my mother’s prayers. I knew I was uncovered—but not abandoned.
Now I am here. I don’t have it all figured out. But I am listening. I am learning to belong again. – Gabriel Grimm
Thought for the Day
When everything is stripped away, the cross meets us not with shame, but with healing love. Where in your life might God be uncovering you—not to expose you, but to heal and restore you through Christ?
“Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:4–5
I grew up surrounded by family. My grandmother held us together with strong love, and for a while, life felt full and secure. We moved from Washington, D.C. to Florida, and church became part of my rhythm. Faith was normal.
But slowly, things fell apart. We moved out from my grandmother’s home, and everything changed. My parents were gone working. The house grew chaotic—fighting, hoarding, and pain. I became known as the “fat dog kid” at school. Shame settled deep in me.
When I experienced terrifying sleep paralysis, I was told it was spiritual attack. Fear grew stronger than faith. So, I made a quiet decision: I walked away from God. And honestly, life seemed easier. The fear lessened. The pain eased. I believed I was better off on my own.
For years, I built my life around myself. I found success, money, and pride. But one by one, the people I loved slipped away—my father, my sister, and then my mother to cancer. I had everything, yet I could not save anyone.
When my mother died, something in me shifted. It felt like a covering lifted. I was exposed—grieving, empty, and undone.
Later, alone in Maine, broken in body and spirit, a friend came to me—someone I once brought to church. Now he loved Jesus. He stayed, listened, and slowly, my heart softened. I remembered my mother’s prayers. I knew I was uncovered—but not abandoned.
Now I am here. I don’t have it all figured out. But I am listening. I am learning to belong again. – Gabriel Grimm
Thought for the Day
When everything is stripped away, the cross meets us not with shame, but with healing love. Where in your life might God be uncovering you—not to expose you, but to heal and restore you through Christ?
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