Buddy was a feral cat, afraid of humans and used to fending for himself. But he took a great step of faith one day in befriending our poodle. Day after day he walked closer, eventually growing more and more comfortable. First he only came close on daily walks, then he stuck his head in the door, then he learned to spend cold nights in our warm bathroom, and he has now become part of the family. He occasionally jumps when someone moves toward him, and of course he eats whatever he finds, even though he knows he will be fed a solid meal every morning and every night. His feral nature is still there. But he is remarkably domestic considering where he came from.
That’s a picture of what it’s like for many of us to be adopted into God’s kingdom. At first, we come only as close as our feelings of safety dictate. We eat like we may not ever receive another meal. But over time, we begin to feel at home. The mentality of an orphan or survivor kicks in every once in a while, but we might as well go ahead and rest in the security of our Father. His home is ours now; we’re in the family. We don’t have to be afraid of his movements, even when on the surface they appear sudden or dangerous. We can stop questioning his goodness.
This can be a lifelong process, especially for those whose hearts were used to being left out in the cold long ago. But Jesus promised we would not be left as orphans (John 14:18). We really can trust the heart of God. Whatever our circumstances look like, we are completely secure in him. We can confidently come in from the cold. The warmth of the family home is ours.
