Old feelings, still true

I recently came across an old blog and considered it worth reposting. Still so accurate.

Thursday, August 24, 2006
"Never been unloved" (Michael W. Smith) Current mood:passionate Category: Life


Insecure. Worthless. Broken. Failure. Trash. Even just typing these words, my mouth fills with a taste of disgust. So many young men and young women hear these messages playing in their heads like a tape (yes, a cassette-remember those?) set on playback, repeat. The origination of these messages is unique to each heart. Some have heard them beaten in year after year, literally in verbal or emotional abuse from those whom they love and value opinions from the most. These children have grown up believing they have no place in this world, or that if they do, it is only if they improve themselves or just stay low and unnoticed. Surely there is no acceptance offered for failures such as these. Others hear these words through the actions of others, as they tend to speak a little louder, verifying the truth of the disbelief. And still more hear these messages from the lack of: the lack of trust, the lack of love, the lack of encouragement, the lack of affirmation, and the lack of assurance. Neglect takes the most evil form, because it teaches these children of the Lord that they are not worth anyone's time. They have been lost in the midst of a busy and more important world.
Yet as I sit here, more words come to mind. Beautiful, precious, valuable, worthy, priceless. These words, too, have been playing, but in a softer and more subtle form, so that the words of the world--nay, the devil--ring so much louder to the ear. God whispers to His children that that are beautifully and wonderfully made. He looks at them with love and admiration, remembering the intricate details with which they were formed. Remembering their purposes, and arranging for the most romantic and unique life for each. To Him, each child is just as important as the last. No one was looked over; no one was forgotten. God doesn't make "mistakes", as so many have quoted.
The tape recorder that continues to be played is a message from the devil himself, hitting on our deepest weakness to work to his greatest advantage. He picks our fallen natures--our deepest struggles--and attacks them, again and again. Of this I am sure, and have seen him firsthand try to intervene in a place God was trying to heal in my own life. He whispers these messages in our ears: "you're not good enough, not pretty enough, not worthy enough." "You are a failure and a disappointment. What is wrong with you?" "If only you could be like him/her...then your life would be perfect. Then he/she would love you more. Then GOD would love you more." And a disappointment this is, for sure, because God is longing us to listen to Him. To really take in and remember what He is telling us.
I recently was reminded something so simple that it brought me to tears. As I hear these messages pounding my head and fight back my "emotionality", why am I listening? If i honestly stop and think, "what would God be saying? Would God be telling me that I have no value? That I am a disappointment, that I am insignificant, that I am ugly?" NO! He is, and doesn't, and won't! God continues patiently whispering to us, His heart breaking every time we believe these lies about ourselves and the son or daughter we are. He so longs for us to realize our worth and value, and to feel acceptance through Him. Maybe our pasts have sent us these messages with which we will never live up to, and never fulfill. Maybe we will never find what we were missing so much from the people whom we needed it the most. But that's what makes Him so amazing. HE can fill that, can give that, can heal that. HE alone can make up for the loss, for the pain and the hurt. He can mend our hearts and send us on our way to live for HIM and Him alone.
My friends, girls and guys alike...if nothing else, take this away from my thoughts: YOU ARE PRICELESS TO HIM, A BEAUTIFUL CHILD OF GOD. Each time you hear that pang of doubt or insecurity, stop and wonder, "is this message from God? And if not, what WOULD God be saying?" "Sometimes you have to be firm and pray several times. As Peter said, 'firm in the faith' (1 Peter 5:9). But leave it does!" [Captivating] Put your focus on Him, and soon you will see the message He longs for you to hear.
"But You never said it would be easy...You only said I'd never go alone..." ~Ginny Owens
"The reason a woman wants a beauty to unveil, the reason she asks, "Do you delight in me? is simply that God does as well. God is capitvating beauty." ~Wild at Heart
"He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions an dto overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." ~Luke 10:18-19
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ~Mathhew 11:28
"God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all things He made." `~James 1:18
"The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me" ~Psalm 138:8a
"The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us." ~Romans 12:3
"You are who you are for a reason, You're part of an intricate plan. You're a precious and perfect unique design, Called God's special woman or man. *You look like you look for a reason, Our God made no mistake. He knit you together within the womb; You're just what He wanted to make. *The parents you had were the ones He chose, and no matter how you may feel; they were custom-designed with God's plan in mind, and they bear the Master's seal. *No, that trauma you faced was not easy, and God wept that it hurt you so. But it was allowed to shape your heart, so that into His likeness you'd grow. *You are who you are for a reason, You've been formed by the Master's rod. You are who you are, beloved, because there is a God." ~Russell Keifer, from "Purpose Driven Life"