Years ago I came face to face with my beliefs as a good friend told me that they did not believe in God. The questions that made them walk away from Christianity, I chose to find answers for. When all was said and done I stood firm that the Bible was true, in its entirety, and that Jesus Christ’s atonement was the only way to be reunited with our creator in Heaven.

Then came the second wrestling. Because I believed in God, His Word, and His path for eternal life, that also meant I would lose several people I care deeply for at the end of our short and temporary time here.

It would be foolish to dismiss Biblical truths just because they made me sad. In fact, it would be detrimental to the work of saving lives. Taking a hard look at the consequences makes sharing the gospel that more urgent and vital.

Along with sharing the gospel, doing my best to live it, I have prayed. I have prayed for years that God would open the eyes and hearts of my friends to see His love and true character. I have prayed that the community that surrounds these individuals be a strong witness and act as the hands and feet of Jesus in such a way that it pointed towards Christ instead of away with a harmed and hard heart.

These years of chasing and praying started vigorous, passionate, and diligent… but waned over time with the consistent lack of change. I became discouraged and heart-broken. It felt as though I was the only one who cared about these souls that remained hard towards God. It felt as though nothing would change and my prayers didn’t matter.

As time went on, I moved on. I stopped praying for my friends. My heartbreak for them was shoved into a corner so I didn’t have to feel it. The urgency was replaced with complacency. I numbed myself again to the reality and the urgency of the gospel.

Then God reminded me.  In the middle of a church service, the worship team began to play “Reckless Love.” I had heard this song on the radio plenty of times, but it struck a new chord.

“Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me”

I thought of my friends who didn’t know God. Even though they didn’t know Him like I did, God still sang over them, created them, and brought them to life regardless of their disregard for Him.

“Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah”

Even though I had stopped praying, God was still chasing them down.

“When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me”

Though they oppose Christianity and fight against God, God is fighting FOR them.

“There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me”

God is still recklessly chasing them, even though I had given up.

I couldn’t sing. I just sat and cried. This song still overwhelms me. It reminded me that God still cares, God is still chasing after my friends. Even though I haven’t seen answers or results, God is still at work in their lives. This gave me so much hope. Although I do need to continue to pray for the lost, continue to speak with grace and truth, continue to love like God… I’m not doing it alone, and God wants it even more than I do.

May we not lose sight of the importance of knowing Christ, the pain of His absence, and the urgency to share His hope. May we mirror God’s passionate pursuit as best we can to fight for His beloved children to return to Him, so we can all spend eternity together.