Summertime Ink
- Cary Valdes
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Summertime Ink
Two summers ago, my counselor looked right at me and said, “Cary, even if so and so happens, you will be okay, BECAUSE God will never leave you, nor forsake you. Do you trust your Father God? You love Him, but do you trust Him?”
Those words seared my heart. I let the tears fall. It rattled me. He went on to paraphrase Romans 8, “If God is for you then who (what) can be against you, what can separate you from the love of God?” (Romans 8:31-19)
After that summer, the theme, God’s unfailing love, was about to confront the root of my problem - Fear. I was about to learn that the presence of fear is the absence of faith. I needed to trust The One that would be there for me “even if” happens.
I recognized that my fears were based on experiences of abandonment, rejection, and unwantedness. Past experiences and loved one’s choices had taken root and created fears that blocked my ability to trust a good, good Father.
The time had come. Summertime, a time of growth and plentiful fruit. Yet there were areas where I could not produce fruit, because my fears were choking the trust God wanted to teach me. I needed to be set free.
God so lovingly began to make the word Hesed appear everywhere. I saw it on kitchen towels, heard it in sermons, and even received a necklace with the Hebrew word on it! The word Hesed encompasses various meanings. There is not one word that could translate it. In essence it means, the lovingkindness and unfailing love of God towards us.
“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the LORD who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 NASB95 (bold, emphases & underline added)
Pause – let that soak in. Read it again.
I don’t know about you, but I have had my share of “mountains” and “hills.” So, receiving the necklace was unexpected and profoundly moving. No one knew that God was “pursuing” me with this word. He was going to bathe me with His love so I would have the faith I needed to release these fears, because even faith is a gift from Him, (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God was aware of my concerns about aloneness, future financial security, lack of caregiving in my later years, and not being chosen, (the last point needs its own blog). My Father wanted me to trust Him because His love is unshakeable and perfect. He was reminding me of Deuteronomy 31:6…
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (ESV)
By the end of the year, I decided that I wanted to do something that I never thought I would do, get a tattoo. I felt a deep desire to “mark” this transformation. I needed a physical reminder of my King’s unfailing love for me.
The following year, on my birthday, which is during the summer, I got my first tattoo. The photo attached to this blog is my tattoo, Hesed in Hebrew. However, before I would get the tattoo, I memorized Isaiah 54:10 and promised myself that I would proclaim my Loving, Peace-Giving, Compassionate-God to the tattoo artist who was going to do it. I ended up sharing “my Hesed story” to all three tattoo artists who were there!
Any regrets on the tattoo? No! It has been profoundly impactful, assisting me during moments when fear wants to rear its ugly head. It is a reminder and allows me to fight the enemy with God’s word. When I feel myself succumbing to fear, I recite Isaiah 54:10 aloud. Plus, it has given me opportunity to share the Good News when people ask me about the tattoo.
How about you?
· What is your “even if”? Song - Even If by MercyMe
· What are your fears? Could you lay them before a faithful and loving Father?
· Do you need to seek counseling? Do not delay, get help!
· Do you need prayer? Please reach out… Request Prayer from Women of Renewal
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