Treasured Possession

Have you ever felt rejected? Hurt? Discarded? Forgotten? I know I have on more than one occasion and usually, it's by the people who I love the most. Whether or not it was intended to cause me to feel this way doesn't matter. It just happens that at moments I feel this way. Feelings are a funny and finicky thing though because they change faster than Minnesota weather. So why do I rely on them as much as I do? For those who believe in Jesus (like me:), we know that we are loved by God. We know that He cares for us. Do I believe it? Even still, do I live as though I believe it?

Sitting here at work (which is where I wrote this, I know, it's naughty) I am mentally exhausted and physically tired. So much so that I no longer have the energy to fight God anymore (which in hindsight, is a good thing). In this moment, He made me realize that I have indeed been fighting Him and in doing so, ignoring The Truth while believing the lies of the devil.

You see, the devil LOVES it when we believe something based on feelings. Whenever I don't feel loved or cared for, he pounces, filling my head with his lies about God. It's hard, for me especially, in those moments to discern that the devil has weaseled his way into my mind again. It takes being in God's Word daily to recognize that those thoughts that weigh me down and tear into who I am, or cause me to think badly about myself are satan's lies. Let me tell you what God says instead. He says I am (you are) His child (1 John 3:1). God says I am (you are) forgiven and redeemed (Ephesians 1:7). God says He IS The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6). Fact: for every lie that the devil feeds us, God's truth is right there to defeat it.

The truth of the matter is that regardless of how I feel at any given moment, God still loves me. He still cares for me. The truth is that no matter what I think, God is big enough to handle EVERYTHING I've thrown at Him the last decade and a quarter and it changes nothing about who He says I am. The truth is that my value to Him is not based on my feelings! I am His treasured possession! He sent His only Son to die an excruciating death for me (and you), what God would make that great sacrifice for someone He doesn't love deeply?

I know all this is true, but I don't always believe it; therefore, I do not always live it. But it's okay. God still loves me even though I screw things up and my feelings change. However, He asks me to keep trying. I must keep trying to follow Him, seek Him, believe Him, and live the way He wants me to. The challenge is to live what I believe and believe what I know. I am (you are) God's treasured possession even though.

Written February 8, 2023