Romans 1:19-20 English Standard Version
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
What is not obvious to the lost is that God the Father wants to be known. In my experience God is able to make Himself known. I have no excuse. God revealed Himself to me, He found me, He initiated first contact. I would say that my experience is not normal. I tend to shy away from telling anyone of my first encounter. The lost have just now moved from skepticism into listening. Do not destroy that trust with tales that are hard to accept by those seeking to understand.
Do not endanger the trust you just gained.
Perhaps it is better to ask if they have sought comfort somewhere, from someone. Allow them to tell you where they sought help. That will give you a base to work from. Listening to them gauges a measure of understanding in their experiences, success or failure. Listening will only improve your trust value. Do not judge, analyze.
Luke 12:14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Do not get in a hurry. Force feeding a starving man only leads to choking on what is good for him.
Remember these people are coming out of dangerous lifestyles so it is important not to invoke the threat of eternal damnation. We want them to know that our God is a loving God before they discover all the attributes of God.
The bible invokes the term “fear not” sixty-three times.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
His Kingdom is a new way of living and unlike anything they have been through before. The promise of that is God’s promise not ours, we are just the messengers. Never make a promise you cannot keep.
It is important for them to know that it is Jesus Christ that makes the difference in this life and that we too were estranged from God at one time. God’s plan from the very beginning was to gather all of His children together into one family.