Many of you will know that as a very young baby I was placed with adoptive parents - a very loving and caring family who told me I was special and loved. Somehow I didn't believe them as I struggled with being rejected. This made me feel alone and unloveable. In one of my blacker moments I cried out to God asking Him to put His arms around me and convince me that he loved me. The following words are God's response to my prayer.

"My child: I chose you and planned for you,
I brought you into being,
I gave you to your family and I entrusted you to them,
Though my heart ached to know that I could not protect you from all the knocks and hurts of the world.
You know I have always loved you and I have always been there for you.
I've walked beside you every step of the way,
I've walked behind you to protect you,
I've gone before you to prepare your way,
And I've walked by your side, carrying you when necessary.
Nothing has happened to you that I haven't known about.
So trust me: know that I love you,
Know that I care deeply for you,
You are mine and I love you.
Let me love you so that in turn you might learn to love others."

Our God is a loving God who does answer our prayers - who meets us when we most need Him. God loves each one of us regardless of who we are or what we have done.

This prayer has always been special to me:

Father , I feel your everlasting arms enfolding me: caressing me: cradling me in the embrace of never ending love.
For your tenderness I praise you,
That I am the focus of your love I thank you,
I surrender myself to you, though all too feeble is my response to your love. Thank you for your never ending love.
Amen.

Never underestimate the power of God's love for you.

Gill Ward
Gill currently works with children that are suffering problems of their own. She is married to David, the Vicar of St Thomas'.