I met Ben in Tbilisi, Georgia. From the first second we walked in the door of our new housing for the month, Ben’s enthusiasm and smile greeted us. His prayers filled the upper room of the house every morning. A young man searching for his God with all of his heart. It was so amazing getting to pray with Ben and hear his struggles, his joys, his growth, and his stories of who Jesus is and what Jesus is doing in His life. He is going through discipleship training and is one of the most amazing young men I’ve met. He is filled with the Spirit and overflows with Joy. His smile catches you from the moment you meet him. He serves the Lord with his whole heart enthusiastically. There is so much God still has planned for his life, but his story is already a beautiful picture of God’s Love, Redemption, and Forgiveness. Here is Ben’s story:
I grew up in a home that followed Jesus. I knew a lot about God, but I never knew Him. I never surrendered to Him and I led a life that I wanted to live for many years.
When I was 18 years old, I was sexually abused by a guy a little older than I. I turned from God and I blamed Him. For three years, my life was full of darkness as I desperately looked for something to fill the crater in my soul.
At the start of these three years, the soles of my feet developed horrible warts. The warts covered my feet and I was incredibly ashamed of them. When I was 21, my destructive lifestyle and alcohol abuse came to a head. I woke up in the hospital one morning because of the serious condition I had put myself in.
I remember my father running into the room and wrapping me in an embrace. He took me home. I told him everything that had happened to me, and everything I had done. He saw all my sin, but looked at me, saw me, and said
“Ben, I forgive you. I want you to be my son.”
My Heavenly Father began speaking to my heart saying the exact same thing. After some time, God revealed Himself to me. I experienced His love and He showed me that it was not Him that had hurt me three years ago. Jesus had nothing but love for me. I gave my life to the One who saved me.
The very next morning, I heard a voice in my heart, telling me to look at my feet. They were washed completely clean! There wasn’t a single blemish! Pure. For the first time in three years, I was free of all shame. Jesus spoke to me and said
“Ben, you are no longer walking in sin. You are following me now.”
I began chasing after Him.
Two weeks after being saved, I fasted for the first time. During that day, God showed me that I was bound by my own unforgiveness.
I needed to forgive the man who hurt me.
I told Him that I knew I had been forgiven of all my sin, and I knew that I was called to forgive like that. I couldn’t do it, so I asked for help. I asked for grace. The next day, this man texted me. After not speaking for 3 years, he reached out, saying that he needed to meet and talk to me, to be reconciled. We met the very next day.
God showed me now the roles were reversed. I was no longer the prodigal coming home, but I was the father running to receive the wayward son. God poured His heart into me; the sin was separated from the man in front of me.
I went to him and embraced him.
We walked away from the conversation as free men. God, in His mercy, showed me what it means to love, what it means to forgive. Fasting played a big role in bringing about this freedom. It cleared my heart to listen to His voice and follow His Spirit.
A smile comes to my face every time I hear Ben’s story. Not only did He see God’s hand in physically healing his feet, He also felt God’s love and embrace. He saw God’s grace and forgiveness towards Ben. He knows God’s love for him. God healed his heart and took away his shame. Ben also found the freedom in forgiving, showing grace, and embracing others himself.
Does unforgiveness also bind you? God offers forgiveness freely to you. Freely to everyone. We need only turn and feel His embrace.
Who also do you need to forgive?
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Nathan
