choices – Page 6 – Amy Linnea

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Solomon 4:7

If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you alone.

He loves you that much.

When He created you, He smiled.

He created you exactly as He wanted. And He doesn’t make mistakes.

Don’t like your hair? Your body isn’t just right?

Well, what actually is ‘just right’ anyway?

What standard are you using? The ever changing worldly standard of beauty?

Because the world’s measure of beauty is completely unreliable. It evolves with the changing of the wind.

One minute bangs are in, the next minute everyone is growing them out. Short skirts or long flowing gowns. Skinny jeans or bell bottoms. Flipped out hair or long straight locks.

You must be taller.

Really?

Well, there’s not much a person can do about that.

We can color our hair, slightly alter our bodies through diet and exercise, adorn ourselves with any type of cloth, but we can’t do a darn thing about the height God decided we should have.

Sure we can wear heels, and yes, I do love them! But heels are clothes.

There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own to alter our height. We must accept how tall or short we are.

Are you more worthy of life and love if you are a certain height?

No.

Are you worth more if you are a size 6 vs. size 12?

Absolutely not.

Yes, we must take care of ourselves, but your worth is not measured by the size on your tag or the numbers on a scale.

Don’t believe me? You should.

Your worth is measured by God and He loves you very much. He created you and you are perfect in His eyes.

Beautiful.

Stop comparing your hair or body to others.

From the balcony of heaven it won’t matter what your jean size was.

Why waste a moment with our short time on earth obsessed with things that don’t matter in light of eternity?

Society has bought a lie that our outward appearance is everything.

E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

And we are no different.

We pour our energy into making ourselves look better.

On the outside.

We waste hours and years comparing ourselves to an impossible standard and waste still more years being unhappy with the way we were created.

Completely unhappy.

And why?

We have tricked ourselves into believing our worth is measured in numbers.

Height. Weight. Dress size. Shoe size.

No more.

Take back those years.

Purpose in your mind that you are loved the way God created you and you will no longer allow society to demand you change.

Hold your head high and love yourself the way God loves you.

The way God made you.

After all, God doesn’t make mistakes – His first mistake was not you.

Every time a thought pops into your brain of unworthiness or every time a feeling washes over you causing you to think you are not good enough, thank God for your healthy brain, arms that work, legs that walk.

Thank Him for your painted toenails, soft hair, and eyes that see.

Your curly eyelashes, soft skin, and precious hands.

Focus on how God sees you.

Perfect. Loved. Daughter of the King.

A precious jewel who was worth dying for.

Jesus took care of your eternal life.

Live like that matters.

And smile.

Because you are beautiful.

Photos by Ria Alfana, Saad Chaudhry, Tim Mossholder, Kelly Sikkema, & Ryan ‘O’ Niel on Unsplash

Yea, though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…..thy rod and staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

These words from Psalm 23 depict the very gut level trust God has for us.

When we are completely in the dark…..when we cannot see nor bear to see what is in front of us, God takes our hand and guides us home.

He knows where we are going.

He holds the map, because He created it.

He has our plan, our details all mapped out for us.

When we cannot see in front of our own hand, we can take His hand and He will guide us.

While in the dark, would you rather grope around, becoming hysterical because you cannot find your way?

Would you like to become as a small child throwing a tantrum, demanding your way and throwing a fit until you get it?

Finally collapse from the intense pressure of needing to know the future and planning for it yourself, making sure to cover every possible detail?

Not me. No thanks.

I’d rather plead to my God who created the universe to guide me in all things. I’d rather seek His face and surrender myself to His will and His plans for my future.

I know my God wants the very best for me.

My joy gives Him pleasure. My service pleases Him.

He wants to bless me and give me good things – all I have to do is provide gut-wrenching trust.

I have to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that my God has my back and will guide me in peace to safety.

Will my life always be in utter darkness? Will He reveal His plan to me at some point? Yes.

In life, there are times of light and times of darkness. God is the same through each moment in our lives. He’s simply standing there, waiting for us to take His hand.

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The darkness is engulfing me. It has completely taken over my vision and I can no longer see anything. Where did everything go? The familiar surroundings have disappeared. I recognize nothing. It’s cold and damp. The ache of loneliness coupled with the loss of vision has brought me to my knees. I cannot think. I’m desperate. I’m lost. I’m dying. All I can think of is to speak the name of Jesus.

He has to be here somewhere. He’s promised never to leave us. Jesus. Jesus. I need you. I cannot see. My life seems to be over and the chaos is overwhelming me. I can’t breathe. Jesus…. help.

I feel a gentle touch on my shoulder. I cannot see who it is, but I feel a peace rippling through my body. I feel God’s presence in the darkness. Hope springs up. Fear leaves. I still cannot see anything at all, but I feel God’s hand on my shoulder, guiding me to my feet. I can feel His arm holding mine and my feet fall into step with His. His gentle presence and strong steady grip release the hold of fear. I still cannot see anything, but I don’t care. My God is with me and He will take me where I am safe. He will surround and protect me. I am His child. He cares.

We walk for months. Sometimes we stop and take a break, but we keep pressing on in a certain direction. We have moved away from the cold damp pit. I don’t know where it went, but it’s far away. I have God to thank for that. Things are changing in my life, changes thrust upon me without choice. It’s similar to the absence of choice leaves have to fall or not from trees in autumn. But God takes care of those trees.

He lets them rest during the winter months.

That’s what God was doing with me during those dark times. He let me rest. Yes, He kept me walking towards His plan, but it was a restful peaceful walk. He did the guiding, and I did the trusting. Gut level trusting, because I had no idea where we were going or what we were doing. I knew I needed to get away from the cold damp pit, but on my own, I could never have found my way out.

I didn’t have the map.

There’s a dim light now. I still don’t know where we are going, or what I am to do, but when I trust my God to lead me down the path of righteousness, I don’t care where I am going. God will lead me where He wants me. He will provide the job He wants for me. He will provide the man He wants for me. He will take care of me and my children along the way and make sure we are all thriving.

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Trust.

I trust God with all of my heart.

He alone is able to bring us out of the darkness. He alone will carry us in His arms when our strength is gone.

He will whisper words of peace and love to our broken hearts. He will dry our tears when our hearts are overflowing with grief.

God is here.

He is waiting for you to trust Him so He can do the very same for you.

All you have to do is lay aside yourself and trust Him.