If we were sitting across from one another, and I asked you to tell me the most valuable pieces that make you who you are as a person, what would you tell me?
Would you hesitate? Would you mutter in defeat, “I’m not sure there’s anything I even like about me”?
We live in a culture that has submerged itself in the critique of oneself as if it were second nature. We flock to our flaws as a misconstrued sense of comfort because we long for an answer. An answer we fall entrapped to believe it’s the culprit keeping us from the picture-perfect life we envisioned.
If I could just change this about me… I could finally be prettier. I could finally be thinner. I could finally have more friends. I could finally be known. I could finally have status. I could finally have more money. I could finally...finally...finally...
What we fail to see is that our picture perfect “finally’s” in actuality are bondages desperately crying out to “finally” be free. But in reality, how can we...when we are in the constant battle against the world dangling its own definition of worth over us?
“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)
The truth is Jesus ordained that you have been intricately chosen for a divine purpose, you are loved and sought after in the greatest unending capacity, and you are redeemed no matter what your past or culture has tried to hold over you.
Scripture tells us that we are part of the royal priesthood, which means we are chosen for a purpose. A purpose that cannot be taken away or minimized, and a purpose that is set to be used to further God’s Kingdom beyond what your heart could ever hope or imagine. The darkness of this world has zero claim on us because in Him we become the light of the world to see.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Jesus’ greatest gift of His ministry was His sacrifice for the sake of your freedom, and to serve as the epitome of the most beautiful unending love. Sometimes rejection breaks its way into our lives and shames us into disbelief of our worthiness to be loved. As a result, it may taint our willingness to even want to receive love again on the other side.
But friend, you are fully known and fully loved by a faithful love that has no ultimatums or strings attached; a love that will always meet you exactly where you are at. Because you are so worthy of this love that the utmost King chose to die for it. If it cannot be earned, it absolutely could never be lost.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Finally, please hold fast to the promise that you are pronounced redeemed and renewed. I know we sometimes inhibit our own abilities and gifts because we fail to see any redemption past our shortcomings or mistakes. But we must not allow them to cripple and define us when Jesus died for them to refine us. We must press on. You are worth your new creation in Christ, and you can move past these things if you just beg to see your beautiful self through His eyes.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
My prayer for you in this moment is that you seek for your worth in the cross. You are free to be loved for exactly who you are, to bask in the promise that you have a purpose, and to believe in the truth that you are always worth it.
- Rhianna
Rhianna Marie Mitchell is the author of “Faithfully Fervent: Standing Firm as a Woman of God in a World Ready to Run”. Rhianna is a pediatric registered nurse and is passionately following her calling into ministry by radically pursuing her mission to mirror God’s vision. Her mission is to help bring hope and healing through her testimony. She will fiercely fight to empower people to know Christ and believe in His incomparable power to transform and save. Find more about Rhianna at faithfullyfervent.com.
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