In a world where so many hearts silently ache for belonging, Center of the Heart by Marilyn Collier offers something rare—a sanctuary of stories, scripture, and spiritual truths that speak directly to the soul. One of the most profound entries in this devotional is titled simply “Adoption,” yet its message runs deep, offering insight not only into God’s love but also into the human need to be chosen, seen, and secure.
Marilyn Collier begins by sharing a heartfelt memory: her stepfather—whom she tenderly refers to as “Daddy”—loved her before he even married her mother. That love wasn’t born of obligation or genetics. It was a choice. A beautiful, intentional decision to embrace her as his own. That one choice changed the course of her emotional life, forming a bond that made loving him in return feel effortless.
“He chose to love me as his daughter, which made loving him quite easy.”
This reflection isn’t merely nostalgic—it’s sacred. Collier connects her earthly experience of being chosen by her stepfather to a divine truth rooted in Ephesians 1:4–7. There, Scripture reminds us that God chose us before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His sons and daughters. He predestined us for love, for belonging, for redemption—not by accident, but by divine design.
This truth is overwhelming, and Marilyn admits as much. “Are those truths more than you can understand?” she asks. “They are more than I can grasp, but the grace of God toward me makes loving Him easy.”
Here lies the power of her writing: vulnerability meets theology. She doesn’t hide behind doctrine; she brings it to life through her own story. In doing so, she unlocks a deeper understanding of what it means to be chosen—not only by people but by God Himself.
Yet, Collier doesn’t sugarcoat the impact of early abandonment. Her biological father left when she was just three years old—a critical age in the formation of a child’s bond with their father. That absence created a wound of insecurity, a lingering belief that she needed to earn love, to work for acceptance, and to fear rejection.
“He left me unconnected and insecure… I take this mentality into the relationships of my life.”
How many of us, if we’re honest, do the same? We carry childhood hurts like invisible luggage into our adult lives. We push harder in relationships, fearing we’re not enough. We create walls, hoping to avoid the pain of abandonment again. And, tragically, we project these fears onto our relationship with God—imagining He, too, might leave when we fail to be perfect.
But Center of the Heart gently reminds us that God’s love doesn’t work that way. His adoption isn’t conditional. His love isn’t earned. And His grace isn’t withdrawn at our weakest moments. Like Marilyn’s stepfather, who chose to love her long before any vows were spoken, God has already chosen us—even before we knew how to choose Him.
What makes this devotion (and the entire book) so powerful is its honesty. Marilyn speaks as someone who has lived through both heartache and healing, and she invites readers to do the same. She doesn’t rush the process—she walks alongside the reader with compassion, pointing again and again to the Father’s heart.