Ben Pettit

Sustained injury.

She was just like everyone else her age. She wanted to fit in. She wore the right clothes and went to the right school. She drove the right car. She wanted to be loved. She wanted to be cared for. He was one of the popular kids. When he asked her out, she of course said yes. He was a jerk and forced her to go beyond where she wanted to go. She never told anyone. 6 years later she’s still hurting and wanting to be loved and cherished more than anything. She never could see the One who loved her more than anyone…

Sustained surface.

He did it all right. He led the worship music for his youth group. He took every opportunity to learn the right information to succeed. He wanted wisdom more than anything in the world. He made friends with the right people, and he fit in on the surface level. But, he always wanted someone to ask him how his day was and actually care enough to make eye contact and listen to his answer.  He was hurting inside, but so put together on the outside so that no one could ever tell. He had the occasional drink, but never to much. He loved the Lord but it seemed like his church friends were worse at friendship than his non-Christian friends. At least the non-churched friends cared enough to listen…

Sustained permanence.

Her father passed away tragically when she was 13. She was a daddy’s girl. She depended on him for so much. Her mother was very strict on her. Mom said that she couldn’t go out with a boy until she was 16. So at 14 she started dating a guy who was 19. Her mom never knew and she sneaked around her back for months. The boy said that he loved her and wanted to show her. She said no, but he persisted. She had pain for the next week. She finally had to tell her mother, and they went to a specialist in Dallas. The violence was extensive and permanent. She’ll never be able to bear children…

Sustained identity

She had pink hair. She would do anything to stand out in a crowd. She would never smile for a picture. Her parents were divorced, and she didn’t even know what a family ever was or could be. She looked for acceptance in all places. Places in the youth group and in the party circle too. Bible lessons Wednesday night and drunkenness Friday. She got dared to kiss a girl. She liked it and felt ok with it. For the next 4 years she would struggle with who she was. Holding on to the sin so hard and believing that’s who she was now. Never grasping the love and freedom that comes from her heavenly Father…

They just needed love. Sustained,

love from the Father.