Living Out Our Own Baptisms, Too.....

The week or so prior to the baptisms was a challenging time for everyone here at MRH. Some of the girls became increasingly unhappy and expressed a desire to run away. Hurtful things were said to staff and amongst fellow residents. Our staff was on high alert, anxious and uncertain how the week would unfold. We found ourselves in the middle of a spiritual battle and realized we could not fight it on our own.

The girls’ decision to be baptized, however, reminded us again that Jesus is for desperate people. During our staff devotional last week, we read story and after story of how the sick, lame, poor, and the enslaved approached Jesus with desperation and little regard of religious protocol or social graces. Indeed, God does His best work in people who are at the end of their rope. Unfortunately and too often, we simply do not let ourselves get to that point. So like little children, we found ourselves begging our Father in prayer - Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion foreve (Psalm 73:25-26).

We now shared the same cry with the girls and together we found inexpressible joy at week’s end.

The girls’ baptisms also reminded us the simplicity of the gospel. In the upcoming days, I expect the devil to raise doubt about the authenticity of their decisions. But the voice of truth reminds us that Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners and utterly helpless (Romans 5:6). Our prayer is that we all continue to grow in His grace and into His likeness.

Everyday the girls here at MRH seemingly bring us to a place of hope, courage, humility, and total dependence on our Heavenly Father. They are teaching us to live out our own baptisms, reminding us of simple truths we should have never forgotten in the first place - that we all need desperately need our Savior Jesus and that He is waiting to prove Himself to be more than enough in our lives -

“But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”