Jesus grew from that baby in the manger to a man, crucified on the cross for our sins. He felt every shame, pain, and fear that we do. And because He understands, He desires to bless you, so you can be a blessing to others.

Once I took the focus off of myself and put it on Christ, He revealed in me my sin. It was through repentance that the weight was lifted off of me. And because of that freedom, I found myself taking Jesus outside of the church. I started sharing the healing that only the Gospel can bring with other hurting people.

When I learned about the inner lies, the root of bitterness that I believed, I had to talk about my story. I needed to share what happened to me so the Holy Spirit could sever those lies and replace them with the truth: I am loved! I am grounded in love! I have the strength and courage to be the man God created me to be! I am grounded in the love of Christ Jesus!

At a recent meeting, Ruth told her group, "I'm freer right now in jail than I ever was on the outside. Just like Psalm 103, I want to only proclaim God. He has forgiven my sins; He has redeemed me and pulled me out of the pit; He has crowned me with love and compassion."

 Dear Jesus, thank you for taking on human flesh so that You could understand the temptations and trials I face. Thank you for being the Son of God, with the power to walk with me through my struggles and turn my trials into blessings, Amen.

When we give hurting individuals a safe space to tell their story at gatherings like the cultural exchange on the Navajo Nation, their hurt is no longer hidden within the walls of a house or the confines of a heart. Once that hurt has been exposed to the light, God can do amazing things with it. He can heal it, and he can use it to His glory. He can mend broken families and repair relationships.