My favorite moments on this earth always involve two things: people and hugs. It’s as if the times when I am embraced or the times I get to embrace others are moments in which time stops and God reminds me what truly matters. I admit, I often need that reminder; I get concerned with what I look like, how many titles I have to my name, and whether the world says those titles are important. I get consumed with what the future will look like, and I get jealous of those who seem to have more than I do. When I am in this mindset, I am angry, sad, anxious, and I feel worthless.
“Remember the truth,” I tell myself when I realize what it does to focus on such meaningless things. Because I know truly, deep down, that only one thing matters, and that is love.
I believe that one of the enemy’s greatest tools against us is apathy. It is no secret that he has so many people’s minds locked on the superficial and temporary through social media or other forms of entertainment. It is sickening to see how many lives he has stolen through the lies that someone is not “pretty enough,” “good enough,” or “popular enough.”
There was a time in my life where I almost lost sight of my worth completely. I felt so alone and hopeless that I considered what the world would be like without me in it. I came to believe that if I left, people would not even notice I was gone. People loved me and cared for me, but I couldn’t see it; I chose to fight alone because of the lie, “you are a burden.” I thank the Lord for saving me from the pit I was in and for reminding me of my worth because of His sacrifice. Now, there is nothing that saddens me more than when people are blind to the truth of how much their life matters and how much they are loved.
Truly, friend, your life touches so many, and there would be a void in many hearts if you were not here. Think about it: when you love one person, they feel empowered to love another, who loves another, who loves another, and so on. You are needed. I say this to plead with the body of Christ to stay alert and remember what truly matters. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us plainly:
“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.”
We are in an intense battle, fighting for our lives and the lives of others, and the love of God is the only thing that can heal us completely. The devil’s only aim is to steal, kill, and destroy lives, but Jesus gave His own life for all so that each person could have proof that they are loved with unimaginable and unconditional love. When we believe in Him, we can be assured that there is a hope greater than this world, and this keeps us going.
Beloved, you have been created by God with the purpose to be His and to love hurting souls with Him. There is no one like you; you are unique, and you have an identity that is not dependent on what you have been through or what you have done. I know life has been hard, but I am proud that you are here, still fighting. You are not a burden to others. On the contrary, when you allow others into your struggle, you will find that struggle connects us and makes us each less alone. You are less vulnerable to the enemy’s lies when you are surrounded by other believers, and I promise that there are fellow humans who want to be in your life. I pray that God would place them in your path, because we need each other desperately as we walk this earth. But the truth is, you are already surrounded and supported, for Jesus is with you, and He has never left your side. You do not have to push through life any longer. God longs to walk through this season with you and work through your emotions together. He loves you more than anything. You are so precious to Him.
I pray that you will be filled with divine courage to resist the devil “strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him belongs the power forever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:9–11). Let us love one another deeply, empathize with each other, and forgive each other. We do not know the day or the hour Christ will return, so we must be ready. This life is too short to run from each other. We need each other. In the moments when we are strong in the truth, let us carry our brothers and sisters to the cross; in the moments when we forget the truth and cannot stand any longer, let us lean on the ones who have proven their love for us. Let us fight for each other, always, and when our eyes fall from His face, let us remind each other what really matters.
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