You Are Enough

Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,"

Genesis 1:26

I have struggled with low self-esteem a majority of my life.  I never felt good enough or smart enough; pretty enough or skinny enough.  I always felt like I should be more than I already was.

The world we live in doesn't make it any easier for us, does it?  We are told we have to look a certain way, drive a certain car, live in a certain house, and make a certain amount of money to be successful.

Oh, the lies we believe...  

And that's exactly what they are.  We have an enemy chasing after us.  He wants us to feel small and weak.  He wants us to feel defeated and powerless.  He wants us to believe that we can't do all the things God has called us to do (John 10:10).

But he's a liar...

John 8:44 tells us that when Satan lies, he is speaking his native language.  So that means we have to decide what we are going to believe. 
We can believe what Satan says about us or we can believe what the Lord says.

Psalm 139:13-15 says: we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Colossians 3:12 says: we are God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved.

Isaiah 43:1-4 says:  we are redeemed, summoned by name, HIS, precious and honored in his sight, and loved.

1 Peter 2:9 says:  we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's SPECIAL posession.

And...

John 3:16 says:  for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God thinks we are worth it.  He thinks we are special and important.  He allowed His Son to die so that we could spend eternity with Him.  That's how much He loves us!

When you are feeling worthless, remember that you are a child of God (Galatians 3:26).  There is NOTHING more important to you in God's eyes.

Face To Face With Evil

Today my ex-husband, biological father of my children, was sentenced to prison for the abuse they had to suffer.  I can honestly say that I was face to face with evil today.

When my oldest daughter and I gave our statements, we made him look us in the eyes. He smirked and glared, showing no remorse. I was not surprised.  My daughter, on the other hand, desperately wanted him to be sorry for what he had done to her and her two sisters.

Sometimes we'll never know the reasons why we have to go through certain things; things so painful that it feels like we will never survive.  Things I know I would have never survived without the love of Jesus.  But I DO know why we had to go through what we went through. We have to show the hurting and broken people of this world that they can overcome. There is victory beyond the battle.  Nothing that has happened is too big or too painful to rise above.

God knows your pain and he is ready and waiting to give you beauty for the ashes.

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Isaiah 61:3