The God Who Pursues Outcasts
By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:1-5, NAS).
This passage hit me deeply When I first read it, particularly verse two. After an intensely painful year that revealed some significant cracks in some of my closest relationships, exacerbated some of my unhealed wounds, and intensified remnants of dysfunction with me, I sought help from a therapist. With her help, I recognized how I became the scapegoat in my family of origin. That role, and the circumstances it created, caused me to feel perpetually rejected and abandoned. I felt like the unwanted, discarded child left to navigate life alone.
In times of pain and stress, those old wounds and the lies attached to them pushed to the surface. This used to cause me to react from a place of brokenness, rather than being empowered by grace.
But I’m no longer the throwaway kid because I belong to the God who gathers the outcast. While the Psalmist was likely referring to God’s people, once exiled to Babylon, his words reveal a powerful truth regarding our Savior’s heart. He sees when others treat us poorly and as if we lack worth. He sees the shame lurking in our souls, and that holds us captive. He knows precisely how deep every cruel statement and hurtful act cuts. And He moves toward us in our pain.
He seeks us out and draws us close.
I’m reminded of an event recorded in John 9. To paraphrase, one day, Jesus encountered and healed a man born blind. This miracle left everyone amazed. Astounded, they brought him to the religious leaders, who questioned how he’d received his sight. After a tense conversation that probably felt more like an inquisition, the Pharisees declared, “You were steeped in sin at birth …” (John 9:34a, NIV). They called him cursed by God, implying that he had deserved his blindness.
But notice verse 35: “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (NIV).
Jesus sought the rejected man out and invited him into an intimate, life-giving relationship with the perfectly loving, always present, eternally faithful Savior.
Because again, the Lord gathers the outcasts. Then, as we rest in His strong yet tender embrace, His Spirit within us heals and binds up our wounds. His love makes us whole. Granted, this rarely occurs instantly, or quickly for that matter. Often, His reparation work takes a lifetime. But today’s passage assures us we don’t have to remain stuck in our brokenness. We don’t have to walk through life feeling like an outcast. We can receive the healing we need to become all God created us to be and to do all He’s called us to do.
Intersecting Life and Faith
Those who grew up feeling unvalued, unseen, and unwanted can unknowingly project those states into their present relationships, including with God. The unhealed places within us can distort our perception, making it hard to trust and receive God’s steadfast love. When we land in that lonely place, may we prayerfully reflect upon passages like today’s—not so that we can deny or suppress our feelings, but rather so that we can inform our emotions with truth.
Regardless of how we feel, this is the truth:
God loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
God’s faithfulness toward us is not dependent on our faithfulness toward Him. Instead, it’s rooted in His unchanging character (Romans 5:8, 20).
The Lord pursues us, always and forever (Ezekiel 34:11; Isaiah 65:1-3).
Our Father longs to heal our most wounded places, and does so as we yield to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 61:1-2).
Our Redeemer can rebuild what sin has shattered and replace the ashes in our lives with beauty (Isaiah 61:3)
If you’re struggling with a fear of abandonment or shame that causes you to feel distant from God and doubt His constant and unconditional love, consider journaling on the verses just referenced. Ask God to help your soul receive those words and to use them to heal your most wounded places.
Further Reading:
Jeremiah 31:1-14
Romans 8:1-4, 31-39
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/whitemay
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Your Emotions
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