What does it mean to feel like an orphan in this world? When we hear the word “orphan” we think about a child who was raised without parents, or maybe had parents who died, but I’m talking about the spirit behind living like an orphan. It’s that wandering heart which feels like it has no family, no roots, no father. It doesn’t so much describe the literal circumstances of being an orphan, but rather a heart which relates to God and others as though it were an orphan. It’s a broken identity which the enemy has exploited to convince people that they don’t belong, or that they’re abandoned.
Here Are Some Ways to Recognize Living as an Orphan
- You feel like everywhere you go, you don’t belong.
- You feel like something is uniquely wrong with you in every social group, and like nobody can ever understand you.
- You feel like you were born to be alone.
- You often feel a sense of abandonment, by God and others.
- You feel homeless, like you’re wandering without roots.
- You feel deserted and betrayed when you need others the most.
If you can identify with these feelings, you might be operating in this orphan way through your life. I’m here to tell you that in Christ, you have a *belonging* which surpasses all of it, and it’s not just my words, it’s all throughout Scripture.
God has a Heart for the Orphans
First off, God specifically has a loving heart toward orphans, as we read about a recurring theme of God placing a unique importance on Orphans and Widows. God even expresses an emphasis on this heart for orphans and widows expressing His justice and mercy.
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Psalm 82:3
God’s ultimate plan for the Orphan is Adoption. He invites the orphan in as a Heavenly Father who will create a home for them.
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Psalm 27:10
God’s plan is to redeem and deliver the orphan from a broken heart and deliver him, to turn his sorrow into joy.
Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. Job 29:12
Jesus’ promise to His own disciples is that He would not abandon them like orphans. Don’t think that He has left us here on our own.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18
Adoption and Identity
God sees you, Orphan and Widow, and in Jesus you don’t have to live like an Orphan anymore. you are adopted as Sons and Daughters.
If you are in Christ, your belonging is declared by God, your Adoption is announced by God. Accepting you was part of God’s plan in sending His only Son Jesus to redeem you.
He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:5
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
It’s time to step out of the desolate place and follow Heavenly Father’s voice, His calling to you as His son or daughter.
Belonging
If Orphan is where you’re at today, Belonging is where God is calling you into. You weren’t a mistake, you were made for a purpose by God.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
Do you believe this verse – that you are fearfully and wonderfully made? Or is it just a nice flattering greeting-card message? I want you to really pause and think about that. God wants us to understand that we are valuable in His image.
Stepping Out of Rejection
Rejection from Others
Sometimes rejection is perceived through a false lens of feeling rejected within your own soul. In other cases, rejection could be a real occurrence where people are rejecting you. In either case, no matter how misunderstood you are by man, you are understood by God. God knows your heart and your biography, and He adopts you as a son or daughter. Draw nearer to God and find acceptance is there.
Rejection from Self
You may be dealing with self-rejection where you’re your own worst enemy. First of all, those thoughts are not your own – those thoughts are from the enemy. The enemy wants you to reject yourself because God accepts you. The enemy makes you believe they are your own thoughts, but they come through sin within your flesh.
Here’s the thing – if God accepts you in Christ, who are you to argue with God? The blood of Jesus is greater than your own thoughts of self rejection. You have the ability to come out of agreement with those thoughts, and start to agree with what God says about you.
Rejection from God
The worst possible thing to imagine isn’t being rejected by self or by others, but by God. What a place of darkness that would be! But I’m here to tell you that Jesus stepped in your place on the cross and took the rejection of the Father upon Himself so that you and I will never have to experience that rejection.
Belonging in the Church
You don’t belong in the Church because a person tells you that you belong, you belong in the Church because God declares it! When you are in Christ Jesus, you are a member of His body. You don’t need to sign a special membership form, Jesus has signed your membership.
You may feel like you’re trying to find a place of belonging through strife and effort. It’s time to let go of that. It’s time to REST in the assurance that you already belong, and out of that place God will lead you into where you fit into the body of Christ.
You may feel like you are so different from others. That weirdness may not be an exclusion from the Church, but it could be the very thing God wants to use to help others. It may be your unique function within the Church because all of the members are different.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. But we are all a part of the Body of Christ. Romans 12:4
A Prayer for You
My Prayer for you is for your heart to receive God’s acceptance of you in Christ Jesus, and to come into agreement with what God says about you in your belonging as a son or daughter. I pray that this will transform your relationships with God and others, and that God will help you to navigate into the fullness of your identity and adoption. Be blessed!