This was our verse of the week. My precious eight year old made this and added the sweet note for me. :) (I know there are a couple misspellings, but it only adds to the beauty of this message to me.) I want so badly for my kids to believe this verse to the very depths of their soul. I want them to believe they are fearfully and wonderfully made, that they're a wonder to behold, not by anything they have done, but all because of Him and His doing. I want to so badly to believe it for myself and others that we no longer question it. What if we truly believed that God is pleased with us? That He looks upon His creation of us and thinks, "I did good." Do we believe He delights in us or rejoices over us with singing? Or hears the desires of our hearts? I had a desire to worship God and hug Him and kiss Him every night and please Him since the age of 4 because He heard the desires of my little heart that thought if He could completely heal a mentally handicapped kid whose feet turned different directions, surely He could heal my broken collarbone that the doctor said might not fully heal. As soon as I thought that, He did. Nobody had even prayed over me, but as soon as I said "Mom, Jesus healed me!" she and everyone rejoiced and praised God for it. I knew God's possibilities, His heart, and that He cared about a little girl like me who has often felt like a burden to everyone but Him from a young age. He has shown up in really powerful ways throughout my life that I feel incredibly grateful for. It wasn't until a very trying season in my life where I carried a lot of shame and false accusations and guilt from things beyond my control and just went through almost a decade of wondering where God was and if He still loved me that the shackles of religion came into my life. The shame that so many people carry that made me feel like no matter what I do, I will never measure up. Things I used to do with ease now felt like a burden. God's laws no longer felt like a pleasure to me, they felt like a cage I couldn't escape because I couldn't deny Him, but I also felt bound to do them. For the first time in my life, I understood why some people in the church condemn those outside of the church because they themselves walk around with a condemnation that no matter what they do or get right, it will never be enough. They don't feel like they're enough, yet they don't feel the freedom to express themselves either because of the extra shame and condemnation they and others would put on them. They feel completely boxed in and trapped. It's truly a hell on earth no one should ever have to experience. They don't realize that everything the Father has is available to them just like the older brother of the prodigal son got wrong. People don't need to keep hearing how flawed they are. I think the majority of people know that with every fiber of their being. It's something we can't escape if we tried. They already know they have need. They don't need to keep hearing of their need; they need to know it can be filled, Who can fill it, and how. People need to know who the Creator is, why He created in the first place, and that they were created on purpose and with purpose. They need to know they're fearfully and wonderfully made. That they're marvelous creations by a masterful Creator. They need to know He knit them in their mother's womb, that He already knew their destiny since the beginning of time, and that He thought the world needed one of them too. They need to know they're wanted by Him and created to be blessings whether they were received that way or not, whether they were brought about with intention or not. He wants us here and in this time, and He delights in us and rejoices over us with singing. If you're reading this, I want you to know deep down in the depths of your soul that you are immensely loved by a good, good Father who wants to bless us with an abundant life, in Heaven, and on earth. He wants you to bear fruit in every season, and when you connect with Him and have His Holy Spirit living inside of you, it's possible to bear fruit in every season. Your season might be hidden right now, maybe you're buried in dirt, maybe your weaknesses overwhelm you right now, but they are the very soil in which He wishes to show His strength. You can't have a testimony without a test. You can't show His strength without a weakness. Don't keep wearing masks of shame. Don't hide who you are or what you struggle with in fear that you won't be accepted. Confession makes those things lose their power over you. Some people won't get it. They won't receive you. They'll put you down to make themselves feel better because they feel trapped and unable to live in freedom too. But you, you're capable. You're capable of living in the freedom God's Spirit offers. You're capable of loving difficult people when you fill your heart with His love & mercy that never run out. You're capable of rising above your circumstances and overcoming because You serve the greatest Overcomer, and the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead lives inside you. You're capable of forgiving and praying for people who know not what they do. Those who listen to the enemy's lies and think accusing people is something God would have us do but are gravely mistaken. Keep going. Your hope lies in God, not people. Let Him renew your strength. Let Him name you and speak to you. Let Him breathe life into you. His perfect love casts out all fear. He's not afraid of your mess or your imperfections. He makes all things new and makes everything beautiful in its time. You were created in this time, and on purpose. It's time we rise as His sons and daughters, shrinking not in the face of death. It's time we realize He replaced our deceitful hearts with a new one. It's time we renew our mind about who we are, and the value He's placed on us. It's time we stop calling ourselves sinners, but call ourselves saints and live out the life He's called us to. If there wasn't that hope, He wouldn't have spoken it. It's time we cast all our cares and shame upon Him that He never intended for us to carry. It's time we walk out our Christianity in love and gratitude because of how good He is and how much He loves us, not because we're fearful of the consequences of our sin. If we don't love Him or know how good He is, we won't want to be in a place surrounded by Him in the first place. He knows that, and gives us the choice and honors our wishes, but it's never been His desire for any to perish. For God SO loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus is the desire of the nations. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to God except through Him. God did such a good job on you. He loves you so. You're not an accident. Don't let your circumstances keep you down; let them make you stronger and show His strength. Let them show that what Satan meant for evil, God can use for good, for you & everyone around you. I have so much hope for you. I don't even know who needs to read this, but frankly, I need these reminders and try to speak them over myself from time to time. I've been in such a good, fruitful season, but also one that's been so incredibly overwhelming and have been so burnt out as a result of trying to tackle too many things and saw this piece of art I took a picture of and was just going to share a little Instagram post on it only to just keep going with it. I don't think it was an accident. I know so many are struggling now & have been in that place. To be honest, even recently in my mind. Just this twisted truth about how I can rest when I'm dead has always made some overwhelming seasons make death seem so appealing that I can finally sleep then as I always cut into my sleep to try to juggle more and more things. That wasn't the case when I did attempt almost 13 years ago now, but I find myself having to take those thoughts captive still from time to time and remind myself and meditate on all these truths. I hope they help anyone who reads this. Also, this song I've had on repeat most of the weekend that has just made me weep and praise God for His goodness. I hope it ministers to you too. You should definitely take the time to listen to it. You won't regret it. ******* Just a side note, I grew up in an environment where I had to back up everything I shared so to speak. I was in a private Baptist & then Christian school from 1st-12th grade. I've taken a Biblical Apologetics and Hermeneutics class in high school, I've gone to church my whole life, many seasons multiple times a week- a lot of those seasons by choice (ha, not all), my mom used to read the Bible to us nightly when my dad worked nights when I was younger, always had the "Christian" radio station on-literally never turns it off, & while I'm an avid reader of all kinds of books, there's never been a book I've read more than the Bible. None come even close. I'm also a facilitator of a Living Free program at our church and have led small groups in school and church throughout my life. Not to toot my own horn, just to hopefully share some qualifications- though honestly, I think Jesus can speak through anyone. While I try to share Biblical truths God has revealed to me in a way that even a child can understand, I also try to keep in mind those who need the Biblical proof as well as it's truly God's Word & His truth that sets people free-not just what I share or in my words as there's so much more depth to His Living Word that has always kept me coming back for more & revealed new things the more I've read them. As a result, I do try to link what I share as best as I can. I know some people feel the need to see it in the King James version or NKJV as well (I grew up in that environment) & don't always use only those anymore as I think some other versions are easier for people to understand. However, feel free to check them out in the KJ or NKJV if you need to as truth is truth is truth & can always be backed up, & I try not to "add to scripture" as that's a great fear for a lot of people. There are usually multiple verses that state similar truths & sometimes others have already done a great job sharing Bible studies of them that I've linked up to as well. I try to do the work from the get go in case anyone has a hard time believing what's shared or needs proof & often those links can be used as a great Bible study tool if you're looking for one.