When Martin Pistorius was 12 years old, he became sick with cryptococcal meningitis and fell into a coma. He couldn’t move, speak, or do anything. But after 12 years of being in that coma, Martin woke up and got his life back. He eventually got married and is now a motivational speaker.

After he woke up, he told everyone that while he was in the coma, he could hear them and feel everything, which is significant because he stayed in a care center for many hours most days. He was often plopped in front of a TV, which was a much better experience than the ones he had when he was with certain staff members who yanked him by the hair to move him, slammed a metal spoon into his teeth while feeding him, yelled at him, poured hot tea into his mouth when he was sick, and even abused him. He heard and felt everything, but he couldn’t choose to walk away. 

God could choose to walk away from us. He didn’t have to send his Son into a world that would one day kill him. God had a choice, and he chose to send Jesus. Jesus chose to go through pain because he wanted you to know that you will always be able to rely on something—on the promise of God’s love for you. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.’” 

He has. And he promises that he always will.