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Devotional

As you lay there in your blood

February 18, 2026·2 min read·Justin Franich
A young man during active addiction, before finding faith and recovery through Jesus

As you lay there in your blood, nobody stopped.

"You were thrown out into the open field. On the day you were born, you were despised. No one looked on you with pity. No one had compassion enough to do anything for you."

That's Ezekiel 16:5-6. God is talking to Israel, but He's also painting a picture of all of us before Christ. A mess. Abandoned. Overlooked.

But then: "I passed by and saw you."

God saw you when no one else did. He saw you kicking about in your blood, covered in your own filth, and He didn't keep walking. He stopped. He looked at you.

And He said one word: "Live."

Not just breathe. Live. Full, complete, abundant life. True life.

This is the mercy and grace of Jesus. While no eye in the world pitied you, He saw you. While you were still in your mess, He chose you. He didn't wait until you cleaned yourself up. He found you in the field and spoke life over you.

If you're struggling to see your own worth this morning, remember this: the God of the universe passed by, saw you at your worst, and decided you were worth saving.

That's how He sees you. Not as the mess. As the one He called to live.

This was me. And if God could say "Live" over that, He can say it over you.

Prayer Prompt: Have you forgotten that God saw you and chose you in your mess? Thank Him for stopping when no one else did. Let His "Live!" sink into your identity today.

Justin Franich, Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Adult Teen Challenge

Justin Franich

Justin Franich is a former meth addict, Teen Challenge graduate, and pastor who has been clean since 2005. Today he's a husband, father, and Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Adult Teen Challenge. He hosts the Rebuilding Life After Addiction podcast and helps families across the U.S. navigate faith-based recovery options, compare programs, and rebuild life after addiction.

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