Belonging

For our anniversary this past year, my husband and I had the joy of staying at a super swanky hotel to celebrate! One with incredible service, attention to detail, delicious food, and gorgeous views. They called us by our names and said happy anniversary everywhere we went, even down to giving us a special gift and arranging a lovely table for dinner without us telling them at each juncture that it was our anniversary. They had a well-planned and thoughtful way of celebrating the special moment’s in their guests' lives during their stay. We felt special and well thought of while we were their guests. We might even return to celebrate again someday.

While this is a cute story of being celebrated, and we loved it, there is one likely reason that this was a priority for them - return business. The employees executing this mission also enjoy

their jobs and do them well. However, the bigger picture here is that it’s business. It's for the bottom line. It’s for an occasional experience, it doesn’t last, and it’s temporary.

Amid this experience, I thought, why do these things make me feel so special?

Well, I think it’s because while we were there, it was as if they knew us and we were important. Like we belonged there. We all have an innate need to belong, and it is a powerful feeling when we do. Being known has great value to us as people; God made us for connection and belonging. Think about a person in your life who knows you well; relationships like that often provide a deep sense of security, love, fellowship, and much more. It’s a part of God’s work in action, but not all of it.

Here is the thing, GOD’s love for us is not temporary, and it lasts forever. We belong to Him and with Him - ALWAYS! You may be reading this thinking, well, duh, Erin; or maybe- hmm … I never thought of it that way, or somewhere in between. All that to say, my friends, we need reminders of what this REALLY means for us.

The daily grind of life can wear us down and out, even when walking with Jesus. It’s essential that we take moments throughout our days to think and remember that God has prepared the best table for us, and it’s not just for our anniversary or birthday. He thought through, planned, and executed the way that all of our life events would matter, and He gave us the gift of Jesus to rescue us from the pain of sin and death forever. We are His children- not His guests. He chose us, created us, we belong with Him, and HE has given us purpose. It may not always feel like it, but it is the truth. We all, including me, must continually take hold of this. We have the opportunity to embrace those truths and all the promises He has made to us every day.

1 Peter 2:9-10 says:

“ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (ESV).

Let’s remember and walk like it today!

Here are some passages that will encourage you in these truths:

• His love is forever: Psalm 136

• He prepares a table for us/He protects us: Psalm 23

• He has rescued us from sin and death: John 3:16-21

• We are His children: Romans 8:15-17

• You are chosen: Isaiah 43:1, Zephaniah 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

• He created you: Psalm 139

• You belong to Him and with Him: Romans 1, Psalm 100:3

• He has given you purpose: Ephesians 2

Erin Nonaka is a Co-Founder and the Director of Communications and Community at Humble Faith Ministries. She is an experienced worship leader, Bible teacher, and leadership trainer. Her heart yearns for women to be equipped and walk boldly for Jesus in every season of life. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two of her three sons.