This past weekend I went to a small town in Kentucky for a mission trip with my school. The trip was only for two nights and it was about 5 hours away, so I went into this weekend not expecting to get a lot out of it. Don’t get me wrong, I thought I would enjoy time getting to know girls from my school and spend a few hours serving a community in need. But, God did a whole lot more than help me build relationships and put on a baby shower.

Our mission for this trip was to share the love of Christ with expectant mothers at a baby shower. Those few hours spent with women and their families from poverty stricken places and broken homes pointed me to the Gospel. When I was reflecting on the day singing worship songs in front of these new friends and playing with their children and making small talk, I was reminded of a video I saw a few weeks ago. If you haven’t seen Matt Chandler talking about “Jesus Wants the Rose” then you need to watch it here before you read the rest of my article.

Some of the women we spoke to were my age and already had toddlers. Some weren’t married and some were caught in addictions to drug and tobacco. In addition, their finances are far from stable. These women were hurt and broken. When I thought about their pain and the struggles they endure every single day I thought about Matt Chandler’s video. These ladies that I met are a lot like the rose that is dilapidated and “unwanted.” We, too, ask each other “Who would want that?” and Chandler reminds us that JESUS WANTS THE ROSE. That is the whole point of the Gospel. These women are in horrible situations and they have nowhere to turn. They are exhausted physically, financially, and spiritually. They can barely provide for themselves and are not able to take care of their children on their own. But in the midst of this hurt and ongoing cycle of pain, Jesus is calling out for them. Jesus wants them to come to Him and find rest. They can’t do anything for Him, but Jesus wants them still. The more I thought about this longing in the midst of pain and brokenness; I was reminded that I am the rose. We’ve become so quick to point the finger at other sinners, instead of ourselves. Jesus wants you and me and those women at our worst. We don’t have to be morally good or put together to get Jesus, because that’s not the Gospel. It’s in our weakest and darkest moments that our Savior comes and lavishes us with love. He wants our broken and torn petals, He wants the unwanted rose. What a relief it is to know that we don’t have to act like we have our lives together because Jesus makes us whole in Him.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

I love that verse and need to hear it time and time again. I get caught in these sins and am surrounded in darkness, BUT GOD finds me and takes me in. This weekend reminded me of the radical love of Jesus and how unfathomable it is that someone can love me at my absolute worst moments. Jesus wants the rose; He wants me and every other person struggling with sin. I don’t deserve Him, but He wants me still. Thank you, Jesus, for this weekend and for showing me that your love is astounding, radical, and everything I need.