“Mr. God, He lives down the block at the corner of Forgiveness and Redemption. I have known who He is, but never in a personal way.”
Dear Mr. God,
Hello, how are things going? You probably don’t remember me so that this letter might come as a surprise to you. I don’t know if You’ve been keeping tabs on all that’s been going on in my life because it’s been a long time since we’ve talked, but I do remember the first time that we met. My mom introduced me to You. You were very kind, but it seemed like You wanted more than just a hello. I think You wanted a relationship, but I wasn’t interested at that time.
As years passed, I knew you could see me wandering up and down the street, looking earnestly for something that You knew I would not find. I thought of You often but didn’t feel like I could just come and knock at Your door. I knew where You lived. I always knew who You were. I always knew what You could do. I always knew how people saw You. I have heard of the things that You have done and how You have worked through people and transformed their lives, but I never knew You personally.
I am writing You this letter because I have reached a point in my life when I need You. I’ve tried everything else, and nothing works. So I figured, why not reach out? I know that I haven’t really stayed in touch with You much, but deep down, I always knew that Mr. God from down the street would always be there, waiting.
I remember the times that Mami would spend hours talking to You, always saying how much she loved You and how You loved her. She would also say how much wisdom You gave her and how ready she felt to go home when the time came. I have come to a point in my life when I’m longing for the same solace my mom & others have found in You. I am seeking wisdom, love, and a sense of belonging. I have gone so far away that I don’t even know where to start. I know deep down inside that You have all the answers, and You are able to help me find my way home.
So, here I am. I know it’s been a while; I’ve been away for far too long without a smile. Mr. God, with all due respect, can You help me?
The kid from up the block at the corner of Lost ‘n’ Sin,
Your daughter’s son
Why “Mr. God?”
As a parent, we all teach our kids to respect their elders. One way to show respect is to address them as “Mr.” or “Mrs.” In a Latino home, we always address our elders as “Usted,” “Don” or “Doña,” or “Señor” or “Señora.” We can still call them by their first names, but we must make sure that we put the “Mr.” or “Mrs.” in front as a sign of respect. We might know their first name, but that doesn’t mean that we know them personally. That doesn’t mean that we are in a relationship with them. Even though that person might want the best for us and even if he or she might want a relationship with us, because of respect, we still address him or her as or “Mr.” or “Mrs.”
Before I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, I knew God because I had been introduced to Him, but I didn’t know Him personally. Therefore, I called Him “Mr.” If I had written a letter to God back then, I think this is what it would have looked like. Even today, I sometimes feel that I do not have the permission, confidence, or even the type of intimate relationship with God to just call Him by His first name.
Yet Jesus made it clear when He said that He no longer calls us servants but calls us friends (John 15:15). I must remind myself that we have the ability and the privilege to call Him by name. At any point of sadness, loneliness, depression, need, or guilt, He is there. He says that He will never leave us nor forsake us; all I need to do is call on Him (Deut 31:8).
The writer of Hebrews reminds us to draw near the throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in times of need (Heb.4:16). I can remember the many times I felt I was in a situation I could not overcome. The shame and guilt of past hurt and failures overwhelmed me, and sometimes I felt like I was not worthy of God’s time, let alone His forgiveness and mercy. But then the Holy Spirit reminded me of Romans 8:1:
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
I must take this and run with it because when everything else fails and no other scripture comes to mind, this one will set everything back in order. No matter what is going on around me, this one brings my focus back to basics. No matter how far I have gone off course, no matter what mistakes I have made or how much time has passed, I know God is waiting for me with open arms, calling me to come back home.
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