The Game She Hates (A Healing Kind of Love #1)

by Ella Marie

I don’t think a mere mortal should come between your relationship with Jesus.”

My prayers have felt like shouting into the void, but now I’m realizing that I haven’t taken the time to actually listen.

“I’m sorry, Jesus. I’m sorry for not allowing You to comfort me. Forgive me for being so consumed with my own emotions instead of clinging to Your promises.

That’s why I chose to become a Christian counselor for kids like me.

She’s stunning, like something out of a dream. I find myself catching my breath, completely unable to tear my eyes away.

She’s the kind of person you’d want to draw and hang on your wall, and I do draw, though that’s beside the point.

Someone like me—yet here I am, frozen in place, captivated by her presence. What’s going on with me? It’s weird to feel so strongly about someone I don’t even know.

When I step through the doorway, my heart actually stops. There she is—the mysterious woman from the coffee shop—sitting in a cozy chair in a room that’s more colorful than her outfit.

What are the odds that the most out-of-this-world beautiful woman I’ve ever seen happens to be the therapist who Coach sent me to?

Hehe

Now, I’m sure he probably did a quick Google search on my practice and recognized me. Props to him; that’s more homework than I did.

So clueless

Still, I’d choose a night in over the chaos of the bar scene any day.

But watching Tyler with his kids has opened my eyes to what a loving, involved father looks like.

“I understand you had it rough growing up, but sometimes, God provides us with new opportunities to fill the voids from our past.

Hockey has never been an idol for me;

My primary purpose is to be a godly husband and father to my kids.

Why do I always feel possessive over men who aren’t even mine? First Duke, and now Zane. Something is seriously wrong with me because I don’t even like Zane at all. He

“I meant I need to talk to you as a friend,” I say as sincerely as possible. “Just a friend?” she asks skeptically. “Yes, of course. Only as a friend.” “Are you sure?”

Either I compromised my values to date unbelievers, or I fell for guys who pretended to share my faith in Jesus only to reveal their true intentions later on—that was Clay, two years ago.

I’ve been burned too many times with worldly guys. I can’t let Zane even be an option in my mind.”

With my mind solely focused on Pearl, I doubt anyone will succeed in diverting my attention from her, especially now that I know Duke broke her heart.

My reason for going is none other than to ensure he doesn’t have the opportunity to hurt her again.

Love this

Duke then decides to offer me unsolicited advice about Pearl. “Just be careful. Take it from a guy she was into. She can be clingy, so approach your friendship with that in mind.”

Omg!!!!! So duke did know!!!!

“Oh no,” Duke counters confidently, “she never had the guts to tell me how she felt.

What a jerk!!!

She gave off the vibe of an insecure woman, not a go-getter. I would have faded into the background if I dated her. It just wasn’t attractive to me.”

Omg Duke is so mean!!!

“Don’t be. Jesus turned my worst experiences into something so beautiful.”

“What’s special is Jesus in me. Without him, I’m broken. We all are.” He purses his lips. “I’ve never thought about religion that way.” “It’s not religion I’m talking about.

It was clear someone, who wasn’t even Duke, hadn’t treated her as the gem she truly was, and all I wanted was to reassure her that she was worth more than the world’s treasures.

But then again, he’s a guy who doesn’t believe in my Lord and Savior. I shouldn’t be focusing on his qualities right now.

“I’m starting to,” he responds, his gaze holding mine with sincerity before releasing me.

Ahhhh

All Clay, my ex, had to do was express interest in knowing Jesus, and I opened my heart to him without a second thought. I didn’t even take the time to really pray about it; I simply assumed it was God’s will for me to date him and guide him to Christ. But in the end, he shattered my trust and broke up with me, citing my boundaries as too restrictive.

Preach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All this swooning shouldn’t blind me from the glaring truth that we’re unequally yoked, and I need to distance myself from him, pronto.

“God, I know that Zane has found a place in my heart, but I don’t want to endure more pain.

trust that the man You have destined for me is someone who has walked faithfully with You for as long as I have, if not longer, and lives in alignment with Your will. I need a husband who is a spiritual leader and who understands the profound sacrifice You made on Calvary. Please guide me to this person.”

Amen!!!!!!!

Sin is the one thing that separates God from human beings because He can’t coexist with it.

‘For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.’”

Well, I guess you’d say God used my interest in a girl to show me He’s interested in me too.”

OMGGGG

Tonight, I’ll say the prayer. I’ll ask Jesus to come into my life. I need to finally know what it’s like to have a good Father.

gloryyyy

‘Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness.’ 2 Corinthians 6:14.

can’t keep investing in relationships where faith misaligns.”

Jesus, help me discern what to do with my heart. I’ve tried everything I know, but I’m at a standstill. All I want is to honor You in my relationships and bring glory to Your name. I know Zane can’t be my person because he doesn’t know You. Help him find You, Lord. I know I’m asking for selfish reasons, but I know You care about him even more than I do. You care about everyone’s soul. Please save his. Amen.

I’m the one who created the distance, I thought it was safe as I worked on letting Duke go from my heart. And now, there’s another guy, one who’s currently occupying a larger space in my heart than Duke ever did, and he refuses to budge.

Zane wants me in a way that terrifies me, because my heart longs for him just as deeply, if not more.

“So, with all my heart, I encourage you to embrace your singleness, go on adventures with Jesus and your friends, grow in your faith, and prepare your heart to welcome the right person. Trust in God’s timing, for when the right person comes along, it will be in His perfect way.

But would it be heaven on earth if Jesus isn’t our shared center?

I felt invincible. Finally free.

I’ve always aspired to be a better man, so following Jesus is the only path for me to become the man I’ve always wanted to be.

God, I never thought to ask for love because I never believed in it until now. But if there’s still time to make such requests, and if I could have my pick, it’d be sweet Pearl I’d want to walk down the aisle with.

Crying

There’s a gut feeling that tells me letting him closer in my life could feel just as comforting.

My future husband deserves more self-control than this.

“You’d be surprised how much of the Bible you retain if you make it a priority to read it every day. And with my kids, we memorize verses together. It’s become a big part of my life.”