Truth Amidst Lies

By: Raphaela So, Summer Intern in Kingston-Galloway

Worthless. Weak. Lonely. Unimportant. Day after day, these are some of the lies that many of the kids hear. But where are these lies coming from? Families, teachers, the media, friends – the list goes on. It’s a heartbreaking reality that these children face as these hurts add up one on top of another as the years go on.

During one of the workshops in training, we discussed the thoughts that run through the kids’ heads and the effect they have on them. The more we talked about it, the more I shook my head in disbelief. “These things aren’t true about these kids”, I thought to myself.  Having previously worked with Toronto City Mission, I personally knew that all of these kids were so much more than these lies. The devil continues to speak these negative words to the children through different means, and unfortunately, it drowns out the voices that tell them who they really are.

But the discussion didn’t end there, and I’m so thankful that it didn’t. We went on to talk about how to counteract these lies, not only with encouraging and kind words, but also with Scripture. God’s Word is the ultimate source of authority and truth, and these children’s identities are not rooted in the world. They are rooted in their Creator. Despite the brokenness, the sin, and our depraved nature, God still loves us. And over and over again, He tells us in Scripture who we are in Christ.

You are Children of God (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1)

You are Valued (Matthew 10:29-31)

You are Made In His Image (Genesis 1:27)

You are Loved (Romans 8:38-39)

You are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14)

These are just some of the many truths that point the kids to God’s truth about who they really are.  This list also goes on, and praise God that it does!

Many of the children we encounter do not come from a Christian background, and TCM’s programs, including Sonshine Day Camp, may be the only interaction these kids ever have with the gospel and who God says they are. As we build relationships with these children, I pray that we may be dedicated to showing His love and helping them to understand their true identities in Christ. As His servants this summer, may He use us to help the children to see the truth amidst the lies.

Raphaela is returning as a Summer Intern at Kingston-Galloway. Her hope is that she would rely on not her own strength, but God’s, to minister and reach out to the kids at Sonshine Day Camp.