So many broken people in the world

So many broken people in the world
Who have been told lies about their identity
- you're stupid
- you're worthless
- you're not wanted
- you'll never achieve anything
- you're a waste of space
- you're unloved
Etc etc

Told these lies so often that they start to believe them, 
To live them
To construct their lives around them

And they end up with identities that harm,
That damage
That break
That destruct
That lead to people living out broken, damaged, dysfunctional, negative lives
Full of bad life choices,
Made because they don't believe they have any other choice

We need to put into practice a theology that preaches an identity that heals.
That tells people how loved they are
How special they are
How perfect they are
How they are a child of God
And how God wants the absolute best for them

We need to be showing that theology in how we are with others
In the welcomes that we give
In the unconditional acceptance that we show
In the non-judgmental approach that we bring
In the 'just coming alongside and being there for them' 

We need to help start that healing process
Through what we say
What we do
What we think
And through introducing others to our living loving Lord Jesus Christ

But we also need to start living it out ourselves
We need to believe it for ourselves
We need to allow God's love to heal our broken identities

So that from that place of ongoing healing, 
We can reach out to others

Whether it be the woman working on the streets
Or the student who has given up on school, and been told they will never achieve anything
Or the mother struggling to make ends meet for herself and her children
Or the carer consumed with looking after an elderly relative
Or the child who has additional needs and finds it hard to relate to people
Or the businessman who feels trapped in a relentless rat race of work
Or the person who feels as though they are circling the edge of a big black hole of despair

Whoever they are,
Wherever they are
Whatever their circumstances 

When we come into the same space as them, 
We need to be 'preaching' 
(In the gentlest and most non-preachy way possible)
A theology of identity that heals

And by preaching I don't mean standing in a pulpit and just saying it
I mean living it
Showing it
Getting our hands dirty with it
Hugging it
Listening it
Holding someone's hand with it
Letting the tears come in a safe space

Doing it in the myriad of practical ways that we have available to us, 
if we just stop and look around

To show it through serving
And through allowing others to serve us
That some of their healing will come as they find new ways to live
And to be rebuilt through getting the chance to serve

We need a theology of identity that heals
In our own lives
In the lives of our communities
In our nations
In the world

And we need to be the people who are bringing that theology to bear
Not letting others do it
But taking it forward ourselves

Lord open my eyes and my ears
Open my heart and my mind

To see the world as you see it
To see how you would have me live out this theology
In ways that bring healing
That bring true identities
That bring hope for a better tomorrow 
To people today.