Did you ever take a flower and pull the petals off saying, “Loves me, loves me not?” Only to have it end on “he loves me not,” so you pick up another flower to try again hoping for a different outcome. The truth is we simply want to be loved.
External voices jump in and remind us we didn’t do the job correctly. We don’t have enough money. We aren’t thin enough, smart enough and on and on. Sometimes it’s media and sometimes it’s someone close to us that brings those reminders.
Internal voices cling to the external messages and repeat them over and over in our minds. We add in our own insecurities and question our worthiness. We tear ourselves down by repeating those thought in our minds and the weight of those thoughts grows, gets heavier.
There is another voice we can listen to if we choose. It’s a voice that tells us we are loved. We are enough. We are precious and honored. We are not condemned, and so much more. God created us and declared it good. We can choose to listen to the many things God declares over us rather than the external and internal voices. There is no need to pull petals of flowers questioning “Loves me, loves me not.”
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life. (Isaiah 43:4 NIV)
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)
A quick search results in the many things God declares about the children He loves deeply and personally. Then add to that list the gifts that God has given you. My list includes intelligent, strategic, and compassionate. When the voices are heavy, I return to the list and remind myself of the words God speaks over me. I read them over and over and feel the weight of the voices lift off my shoulders and experience the gift of unconditional love that comes from a life with Christ.
Have you pulled off petals saying, “Loves me, loves me not?” What do you with the voices? Are you willing to create your own list and feel the weight lift? Share your story here and breathe life and bring hope to others.