Articles

WHAT TO DO WHEN GOD ISN’T ANSWERING YOUR PRAYERS

©RELEVANT MAGAZINE // BY ANN SWINDELL     APRIL 18, 2017

All of us have prayers that haven’t been answered yet—at least, not in the way we want them to be. And for some of us, these unanswered prayers feel like the lynchpin of our lives: We feel like if God would just answer this one prayer, everything would finally lock into place.

So what do we do when we’re in the limbo of waiting? How do we keep moving forward? Here are three things to remember:

1. GOD’S TIMING ISN’T THE SAME AS OURS.

We pray and ask God for something—healing, change, breakthrough—because we see our lives from our perspective (which is the only way we can see things!). But God’s perspective is much, much bigger—it’s eternal in its scope and wisdom. When we start praying for something and it doesn’t happen on our timeline, it’s easy to think that God has forgotten us or refuses to answer. But in truth, God is working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Sometimes that means that He is waiting on answering a particular prayer now because He can see down the road and He wants what is eternally and completely best for us. So even though God might seem slow sometimes, He’s never actually slow. He’s not even late. His sense of timing is just way, way better.

2. YOU WON’T BE WAITING FOREVER.

Some of us will have certain prayers answered here on earth, and we’re told to pray persistently about the things on our hearts (Luke 18:1-8). And yet, some of us will pray the same prayer for a lifetime and not see it answered in the way we want here on earth. But I can promise you that you won’t be waiting forever. There is a day coming when Christ will return and make all things new (Revelation 21:5). On that day, every prayer will be answered in its truest and best way, every sickness will disappear, and every trouble will fade. Even death will be swallowed up in life (2 Corinthians 5:4). Christ Himself will meet every longing and fulfill every dream, and all of our waiting will end.

3. GOD LOVES YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION.

Our culture constantly implies that love is the same as license—that loving someone means giving them what they want. But true love isn’t anything like that; true love means giving someone what they deeply need, even if it’s not what they immediately want. God loves us in this way, and that’s why He has given us Christ—His life, death, and resurrection—to secure the way for us to have right relationship with Him. This is the truest form of love: giving us a way to be redeemed when we’ve never deserved it and can’t earn it.

So, when it feels like our prayers keep going unanswered and it might feel like God isn’t loving us, the reality is that He loves us more than anyone else. He proved that love at the cross.

ANN SWINDELL is the author of the new book Still Waiting: Hope for When God Doesn’t Give You What You Want. You can find her online at annswindell.com.

Finding Meaning in Christmas

Christmas is only in a couple days. What a wonderful time of year this is, with the Christmas lights, Christmas movies, delicious food, Christmas music, hot chocolate, Christmas shopping, and more. Each of these elements help to make the Christmas season special. However, they don’t quite complete the picture. The element we are missing is the very person that Christmas is supposed to be all about. And if you have ever been in a church service at Christmas time, you have probably heard a message about the true meaning of Christmas, which is Jesus. This holiday is a celebration of the birth of our Savior. Jesus came with a purpose: to live among us as a human example, to bring salvation to the world, and to give us the opportunity to be set free from sin through our faith in Him. Not only is Jesus the meaning of Christmas, but He gives meaning to our lives.

This Christmas, that is what I am being reminded of… that our lives have meaning and purpose. Because of Jesus, so many lives have been changed, including mine… and maybe yours. One person whose life was drastically changed by Jesus was Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Luke 1, you can find the story of when it all happened. God sent an angel, named Gabriel, to tell Mary that she would give birth to a child, who would be the Son of God. At the time, she was not married, she was a virgin, and she was only a teenager, so I’m sure this came as a shock to her. But she was delighted to accept this purpose that God had bestowed upon her, to be the mother of Jesus Christ. And as far as we know, she did a pretty great job at it.

Growing up, I have always known about Mary who gave birth to Jesus. But I have never had the opportunity to really look deeply at her story. The focus of this story, for me, has always been on Jesus coming into the world, not so much on Mary. So recently, I studied Luke 1 again and only focused on Mary. And as I studied her story, I asked myself: what can I learn from Mary? Three things stood about from the way she responded to God’s call on her life.

The first thing I noticed about Mary was that she was obedient. When God called her, she didn’t hesitate. Yeah, I’m sure she was shocked and confused. But still, her response was “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your Word” (Luke 1:38). She accepted the opportunity. Though she didn’t know what to expect, or even how to be a mother, she loved God and trusted that He knew what He was doing. She responded with obedience.

The second thing I noticed about Mary was that she had a great attitude. When she obeyed, she did not complain or grumble about it. She was joyful and thankful. In fact, Luke 1:46-55 shows us a song of praise that she gave to the Lord. And in that song she said “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” When we obey the Lord, but we complain the whole time, it is not true obedience. True obedience is when we are joyful and have willing hearts towards the Lord, like Mary did.

The third thing I noticed about Mary was that she was faithful. Throughout the whole process, of being pregnant, giving birth, and raising Jesus, she was faithful to her purpose. This calling on her life was not easy, I’m sure. Could you imagine being Mary? She was only twelve or thirteen years old when God told her she would give birth. She didn’t have much money, if any at all. Then, once people found out she was pregnant, I can only imagine that her neighbors and people in her community were gossiping about her since she was so young and was only engaged at that point in her life. Then she also had to try and explain to people that it was the Holy Spirit that caused her to be pregnant, and not Joseph. On top of all of that, she had to flee her home with Joseph in order to give birth to Jesus, since King Herod wanted baby Jesus dead. These are not some easy circumstances to face, especially while being pregnant. Yet even still, she remained faithful. Mary was faithful to feed Jesus, change his diaper, teach him how to walk and talk… as well as all the other essential things that every child needs to have growing up. She was faithful in doing those small, but important, things.

It’s remarkable how faithful Mary was to this purpose. Even when Jesus was being crucified, she was faithful to God’s plan. She didn’t try to stop them from hurting Jesus or killing Him. She was silent and let it happen. How any mother could stand to see their child being killed is unexplainable. But she was able to let it happen only because she knew that Jesus’ death was all a part of God’s plan to save the world. Her commitment to God was incredible.

Mary was just an ordinary person, but God gave her an extraordinary purpose. The same goes for you and me. We may each be just ordinary people, but God has an extraordinary purpose for each of us. The Bible commands us to love God first and then love His people. Those are the two greatest commandments we have been given. God has created each of us uniquely with a unique way to carry out our purpose of loving others and telling the world about God. For Mary, it was being a mother to the Savior of the world. For me, it has been showing young girls that they are loved and valued. For you, at may be something else. And when we are faithful to God and obedient with the small things, extraordinary things will happen.

The important thing to know, today, is that you have a purpose. God calls you worthy. God calls you loved. And God has given you a purpose – a unique way that only you can show the world His love and wonder. So, this Christmas, may you be reminded of that. Remember that Jesus not only came to set you free, but He came to give you life and life abundantly (John 10:10). An abundant life which is full of purpose, just like Mary’s was.

I hope you that have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! May this coming year, 2017, be a year of purpose. May you recognize God’s love for you. And may you find joy in doing the ordinary, little things this year… remembering that they, too, can share God’s love and amount to something extraordinary. You are extraordinary and can make an extraordinary difference, because of Jesus.

-Jen Sargent

Back in Session

School is back in session.
Year after year, the teacher may change, the classroom may change but one thing that may not really change are the emotions of starting a new school year. I remember very clearly laying out my outfit for the first day of school, getting my supplies all together in my backpack and the excitement of seeing everyone after an entire summer of being away. I never slept really well the night before the first day of school. I would lay in bed and just think of all the possibilities of what the next day would hold.

Beyond the emotions, people would often ask you, “Are you ready for school to start?” And most of you would probably say that you weren’t ready and that may be because that means homework, sitting in classes, having a schedule, going to bed earlier, or seeing other students you really don’t want to see. Whatever it may be, I find this question of being “ready” interesting. What option is there if you’re not ready? Basically, school is starting and you have to go whether you are ready or not, right? So, if that is the case how do you prepare for something you don’t feel “ready”?

Prayer.

You may have heard this before or maybe you feel it is not enough. I believe it is a start. Prayer offers peace, assurance, strength, and comfort. When you feel anxious…pray. When you feel like you can’t make it through the day…pray. When you don’t know how to handle a situation…pray. When you feel stressed…pray. God is always available and willing to hear us when we need Him. When others may be sleeping or are too busy to talk, He is available.

When we go to God first in prayer, we build strength and courage. And with God’s strength we are relying on His mighty power and not our own strength but His power at work in us.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” – Ephesians 3:20

I pray that this next year is an amazing year for you. I pray that no matter what comes your way that you will go to God in prayer and He will sustain all your worries, cares, hurt, pain, frustration, concerns, or stress.

You may not “feel” ready to start this school year but ask God to help and prepare you for what He has in store for you this year.

Here is a prayer over you today and the days to come!

“May the Lord strengthen your mind, body and soul today.
Where you are weary may you be refreshed.
Where you are worn may you be renewed.
Where you are broken may you be restored.
Where you are fearful may you become faithful.
Walk in complete confidence today knowing that the Lord Almighty is with you.
Amen.”

-AC

Shattered Identities

In high school, I was a homecoming princess, tennis captain, speech and debate president, honor society scholarship chair, part of a team that won the community project for Business Leaders of America in the US championship, and salutatorian out of a class of over 400 students. On top of everything, I was involved in church and volunteered over 200 hours. During my high school days, from the outside, it seemed that my life was together. I was raised that I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it, and it was true. My family loved and supported me, my friends were right beside me, and my teachers trusted me, but the achievements cost me. I would wake up at 6:30 am and go to bed at 2 am most nights. I was exhausted, rash, angry, and snapped if I felt someone needed to be put in his or her place. I cared and loved people, but I did not have time for myself, others, or for God. I went months without praying or reading my Bible. My attitude was anything but honoring to God.

Senior year was a blur, it was a lot of hard work, but it was also full of great memories. During the year, I ended up applying to over 20 colleges and universities throughout the United States and an endless number of scholarships. Out of all the colleges, my decision was between University of Southern California and Wheaton College, two very different schools, and I had never visited either. One was a secular, party school in the hot climate of Los Angeles and the other was a Christian college in the arctic weather of Chicago. In my heart, I had the peace that I needed to go to Wheaton even though I had no concrete answer for why. I knew no one in Chicago, I had never been to the school, and I didn’t know if I could even afford it. I ended up making the decision to go to Wheaton turning down scholarships for local schools. My mom, my best friend, was heartbroken and did not support my decision.

The summer of 2013, before I headed to college 3000 km from home, we visited Romania for almost two months. In August, I found myself stranded in the Las Vegas airport before finally making it to Wheaton. I started the school year with a clique of friends which I quickly stopped hanging out with. I did cliques in high school, and was sick of it because it excludes people out. Since I had done so many clubs and activities in high school, I joined none my first year of college. I was so tired that all I did was homework. In college, the best way to get to know others is through activities that I did not do. I also felt very excluded because I felt people could not understand me. I came from such a different immigrant background. The only friends I made the first semester were my Hispanic roommates and two other girls. My roommates lived in Chicago and would often leave weekends, so I was alone.

I went from miss popular, who knew almost everyone in my high school to feeling so alone that I would cry in the bathroom, so no one would hear me, in a college campus of over 2400 students. I was shattered and so broken. I had placed my identity in my family, friends, and achievements. I have always been confident, afraid of nothing. If I ever were afraid of something, I would push myself to do it and overcome it. I could not overcome the spot I was in. My family did not support my decision of being at Wheaton, I had few friends, and my achievements meant nothing at Wheaton. Everyone was just as talented if not more so. All I could do was cry to God, “Lord do you hear me? Do you care?” My identities were shattered, but that’s when I truly began to grow. I felt a little like Job. God crushed me, my ego, and brought me to my knees. I hadn’t prayed for months and the first year of college my free thoughts were prayers. It was while I felt that I had nothing that I was reminded of how truly much I had. During the first semester, through the hardship, God transformed me.

After I came back from Christmas break, I joined a disciple small group. Slowly, God began to answer my prayer and bring wonderful people in my life. When I went back for summer break, my mom was amazed at the change in my life. It was during that time that she proclaimed that God had led me to Wheaton and wanted me there. I was no longer irritable, rash, rude, proud, or arrogant. I began to have peace, patience, gentleness, selflessness, and self control. It was through going through the darkness of loneliness and brokenness that God began to shine His light in and through me.

I went from wanting to quit and transfer to leading a small group myself the next year. I went from not having the support of my family, to them encouraging and strengthening me. I had almost no friends, and now I have a family at Wheaton. I began to get involved in extracurricular activities and to give back by interning at a legal immigration office. I began to have purpose in what I was doing. I finally learned that it was because of God that I am where I am. It’s not my own achievements, my own strength, but through God’s wonderful grace.

Currently, I’m writing this blog post in Bucharest, Romania about 10,000 km away from home. Once again, I find myself struggling with the same issues that I did my first year of college, but it doesn’t have the same destroying affect it did the first time. I now know to trust in God and to seek His children for community. Through the good and hard, I am grounded, not in the things that will pass, but in the one true thing that is constant, Jesus. Wherever I find myself, I know that everything will be okay. God has me where He wants me, and I am here to simply love Him and my neighbor with my whole heart.

Below, is a Facebook post I wrote during one of my hardest moments, and the same is true 3 years later and 7000 km away.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am weak, selfish, prideful, judgmental, hateful, unthankful, and needy. I may seem to have it all together, but in reality I am in need of prayer. For the past year, I have been living in a spiritual desert. There have been months in which I went without prayer. When I did pray, it was to cry out to God (feeling all alone). I knew Jesus was my savior and Lord, but I chose nonetheless to carry my own burdens. My walk has slowly transformed from upright standing to slowly bending and being on my knees. I am sooo blessed. I have family members who would sacrifice their lives for me; I have friends who endlessly remind me of their love; I have met people at Wheaton who have been a constant reminder of Jesus’ love; I go to a Christian college when thousands would put themselves at risk for a chance at education, yet I felt abandoned. I am blessed beyond reason, yet my pride prevented me from seeking help or realizing my need. This past couple of months, God has humbled and convicted me. Through the grace of God (even though it wasn’t pleasant), I have reevaluated what is important to me. As I mentioned, I am all of the above. I clearly struggle and need assistance, yet through God’s grace I am slowly learning to trust and love.

Brothers and sisters, I do not share this to bring attention to my life, but rather to the faithfulness of our Father. God commands us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). To all of you who struggle and carry unnecessary burdens remember that, “He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry” (Psalms 147:9). If he takes care of the beasts and ravens, how much more will our dear Father provide for (us) his children.

Dear sons and daughters of God, trust God, pray to your Father who loves dearly (not only for yourselves, but for each other), and love your neighbor; remember that God is faithful no matter what desert you are in or what burden you care. Don’t be afraid to ask others for prayer; God made community intentional. 🙂

With love in Christ,

A humbled sister and daughter

No matter wherever you are in life, be encouraged that you have someone greater than any guiding your way. The King of kings cares for me, and for you intimately.

Geta

Summertime

Well, you finished. Another school year has come and gone. Some of you have only thought about your summer but haven’t made any plans. Some of you have your summer completely planned from the minute school ended until you start again in September. Either way, summer is finally here.

I have found that the summertime can be a lot of fun because you don’t have much of a schedule and you have the freedom to make your schedule what you want. There is no going to school. There is no homework. You don’t have to be in bed at a certain time. You can sleep-in in the mornings. It’s nice.

I remember when I was a teenager I always looked forward to my summer break from school. I spent many days laying in the sun, going to movies, watching t.v., and hanging out with friends. I also had many days where I would say, “I’m bored. There is nothing to do.” By the end of the summer, I was completely bored and actually looking forward to starting school again. I would also have the feelings of disappointment because I would look back at my summer and I had feelings that I “wasted” it or didn’t challenge myself in any way. Sure, I spent time with friends, I relaxed and had fun with my friends – those are all wonderful things. But I found myself thinking, could I have done something more with my time?

This is where I want to challenge you this summer and the time you have….don’t waste it, invest it! I want to encourage you to not only look at your summer as all about YOU but also what you can be giving more of as you have more time to give and invest. Think of all the things you maybe thought about doing during the school year and maybe found yourself thinking or saying, “I can’t because I don’t have enough time.” What could you do with your time to invest into others or to invest into personal growth?

Maybe when you hang out with friends, you volunteer somewhere together.
Maybe it’s taking the time to volunteer at a camp for an NGO or church.
Maybe it’s taking more time to read books.
Maybe it’s spending more quality time with your family.
Maybe it’s trying to start each day reading your Bible and praying.
Maybe it’s journaling everyday.
Maybe it’s taking the time to develop a skill, hobby or talent you have.
Maybe it’s investing more in your relationship with God.

Whatever it may be…challenge yourself! Have fun AND be intentional on ways you can grow and make the most of your summer!

-A.C.

“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” -Ephesians 3:19-20

Fresh Start Spa 2016

When we first started glittr two years ago, we would host monthly events for girls in the Bucharest area.  We would have different events that would be on different topics and presented in a creative way that were relevant to the girls attending.  After we created our curriculum we started to move towards doing more small groups with the girls and less events.  The girls coming to glittr events or small groups were telling us that they loved having both!  So, we decided to bring back some events throughout the year again.  

 

We were thrilled to host our 2nd annual Fresh Start Spa event!  The event is a great occasion for young girls to connect/reconnect with God, with their self and with others. For one day they have the opportunity to escape the everyday monotony and routine and find the chance to relax, to participate in good conversation and to enjoy qualitative introspective time.  Using a simple parallel (between doing a manicure and the spiritual life), in just a few steps the teenage girls have the opportunity to learn in a very profound and tangible way what it means to get rid of the useless and old as to allow God to come and pour inside the new and the fresh.  Sometimes the relationship with God needs a start and other times it needs a fresh start or a restart. Our event on the 28th of May was exactly that! The young girls were challenged, through tangible images and examples to get rid of what is old and to adopt what is new and fresh.

 

It was an amazing day.  We had over 70+ girls attend the event from Bucharest and other cities near by.  We cannot wait to host it again next year and maybe even in different cities around Romania!!
Check out the photos to see the fun time we had together!  

Glittr in Corbeanca

As a glittr team we love to connect with and encourage girls all over Romania!  We want every girl to know they are loved, appreciated, valued, enough, chosen, beautiful and wonderfully made in the image of God.  We try to spread that message across the country through our events, small groups and social media.  All of our main events have been in Bucharest but we love it when we are asked or given the opportunity to do something outside of the city.  

 

And this past weekend we got to do just that!  

 

As a team, we made our way out to a village called Corbeanca, which is just north of the airport in Bucharest.  Boy did we have fun!!  We enjoyed our time with the girls playing games, talking and encouraging them.  For our team, the time we shared with the girls in the small groups were some of our favorite moments.  It was beautiful to hear their thoughts about beauty and identity and one girl even shared that she believed with her whole heart that God loved her and died for her.  So amazing!  

 

The evening came to a close and after many hugs and photos together, the girls left for their homes.  We hope and pray that each girl left encouraged, inspired and walked confidently knowing that they are a daughter of the most high King!  As we made our way back to Bucharest the images of each girl’s smile and their laughter was imprinted in our thoughts and minds.  We look forward to our next visit and continuing our relationship with these incredible girls.  

 

If you have a heart for teenage girls and would love to start something in your community or area, let’s talk!  Write us and let us know what your needs are and what God has placed on your heart to do.  You can contact us at info@glittr.ro
We look forward to hearing from you soon!

You can see more photos from the event here.

 

Finding your Purpose

Recently, during one of our small group meetings, a teenage girl asked me, “How did you find your purpose?” This came about because I was encouraging the girls to ask a woman that they admire or look up to, how they found their purpose in life. I don’t know if I was a woman they looked up to but I realized that it was an opportunity to share my story.

We all at some point come to this point in our life where we wonder if this was what we were created to do or if there is more for us in this life. For some people that time is while they are finishing high school and beginning to look at college and for others it may be further down the road when they are unsatisfied in their current job or situation. Either way, it’s an important moment.

So, how did I find my purpose in life? To start we have to go back to my high school days. Overall, I had a great childhood and grew up in a wonderful Christian home. My parents are very loving and supportive and I got along with my siblings pretty well. But even through all that, I was a girl that lacked self confidence and was desperately seeking others for approval, value and worth. This led to me making many poor decisions and choices. After a really low point in my life, my junior year in high school, I decided that I needed to make some changes and live my life differently. It was in my senior year of high school that we were given an assignment to write a paper, basically saying what you wanted to do with your life. At the time I didn’t think much about it, and all I remember was that I was very passionate about what I was writing.

Fast forward a little. I am now going into my second year of college and my major is in broadcasting. I don’t feel that is what I am “called to do” or my “purpose in life” but it was something. At this point, I was not happy with the major and wanted to be doing something more. I was visiting my parents one weekend and I found the paper I had written my senior year of high school. I remember reading it and it ignited a deep passion within me. I had written about how I wanted to serve and work with teenage girls that had difficulties in life – exactly what I had been through. After reading that I went back to my college and started to pray that God would show me what I was to do. After a few weeks, I found out from a friend that the college had just created a new major called, Youth Developmental Studies and its entire focus was working with teenagers! I was so excited and switched my major as fast as I could.

My first job after college was working at a domestic violence shelter with children. It was through that job that God made things very clear for me. I realized that my purpose, passion and heart is…
for teenage girls to feel loved and accepted and that no matter what life circumstances come their way, they will live their life to their fullest God-given potential!

Here I am, 14 years later, still with the same purpose, passion and heart. I am so encouraged to see a girl find her identity in Christ and live her life abundantly with confidence and strength that only comes from a relationship with Jesus!

So, my challenge and encouragement to you, as you read this, is to keep seeking God for your purpose or calling. I believe with all my heart that God has something specifically just for YOU! He created you for a purpose that only YOU can fulfill!!

If you know your purpose, live it out!!
Give all that you have to SHINE brightly in this world and honor God in all you do.
Be an example for other girls, your friends, colleagues, and sisters.

And remember…
There is nothing that you can do that can make God love you any less!!

Shine Bright!

-A.C.

“I will cry to God Most High, who accomplishes all things on my behalf for He completes my purpose in His plan.” – Psalms 57:2

“ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” – John 10:10

Life doesn’t come with a manual

Dear daughters,

I am writing you today in honor of the recent celebration of all mothers on International Women’s Day (March 8th). I believe we all need our mothers at some point in our life. They are our foundation to life. A lot of who we are is because of our mothers.

When you are little, you rely on your mother for everything and she is there, feeding you, changing you, bathing you, teaching you all the basic skills in life, answering many “why” questions and so much more. As you grow, you begin to do more things on your own. When you reach that point in your life, where you are now, you may think you don’t need your parents or they don’t understand. I remember when I thought the same thing and then I asked my mom her thoughts about something and she shared with me some of her experiences and I was amazed how she had been through some of the same things I was going through.

Believe it or not, but I bet your mom has a lot of wisdom because she had to go through some of the same things, and guess what?! She probably thought the same thing about her mother when she was your age. I could confidently say, that your mother would probably love to sit down with you and listen to what is going on in your life. Great things happening or maybe some difficult things as well.

Many people come and go in your life. Some of the friends that you have now, you may not have a few years from now. They may only be in your life for a season. But your mother or the women in your life that has loved you, mothered you, and mentored you will be by your side for years to come. This beautiful quote sums it up…

“A mother is the only person who loves you, just because you exist.”

We all want to be loved, accepted and appreciated no matter where we are in life. Girls, you are a daughter because of your mother. Your mother works very hard for you in the smallest of details to the biggest plans of your life. They need to hear from you that you love them and appreciate the many things that they do for you on a daily basis. Take time to thank them this week in big and small ways. Remember…

“Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.”

Sincerely,
Andrea

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”
-Proverbs 31:25-26

Loves me, loves me not..

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. In Romania, I am not for sure how much it is really celebrated but in other parts of the world it is a BIG day to show someone close to you how much you love them with flowers and gifts. There are many women who may not like this holiday because if they are not dating or married, then it makes them feel alone or that something is wrong with them.

This has not been much of a holiday for me and my husband and I don’t really do anything extra special for the day. We will write a nice card to one another and that’s usually it. But with this holiday approaching it got me thinking about when I was a little girl.

I was in elementary school and there were many times that my school friends and I would pick flowers from the fields and we would start to pick the petals off one by one. It was kind of a game, each time you picked a petal you would say, “He loves me or he loves me not.” Pick a petal, he loves me. Pick a petal, he loves me not. All the way until the last petal. If you were left with “he loves me” you felt a little excited and loved. But if you were left with “he loves me not” I remember feeling sad. It is amazing to think that such a simple, meaningless game with school friends could have such a strong impression and impact on how you view yourself.

There are many girls or women that believe that they are not ________ (fill in the blank). They have bought into the lies that the world tells us.

You don’t have a boyfriend or husband for Valentine’s Day, there must be something wrong with you.
LIE.

You are too big.
LIE.

You are too skinny.
LIE.

You are not beautiful.
LIE.

You made too many mistakes for someone to love and forgive you.
LIE.

You are not enough.
LIE.

You are not smart.
LIE.

You don’t have enough money.
LIE.

Plain and simple, they are all lies. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever believed a lie?

Many of us can be living our lives and not realize that we are living according to lies that others have told us about ourselves and life in general. We don’t know it’s a lie until someone shares the truth.

Many times, we feel worthless because of people that try to tell us we are worth nothing or can’t do anything. Other times, we feel worthless because we mess up and then let our thoughts consume us, convincing us we aren’t of much value. But we have an identity that cannot be stolen. Many things can be taken from us or can be lost, but our identity is not one of them. We have been made in the image of God, and that can never change!

We were made to show His love, patience, compassion, beauty, joy, passion, strength, justice, and so much more! Satan is jealous of that identity and has been trying to cause us to forget it from the day we were born, but he can never strip that identity away from us. Because you are made in the image of God, you have more worth than anything in this world; you are priceless!

Today, make the choice to believe what God says about you! He loves you just as you are – mistakes, shame, and all. He has always loved you and always will. Jesus died on the cross for you so that you could live your life to the fullest and abundantly! He has a purpose for you.

You can be confident in knowing that it will always be, “He loves me” with God.

May you know deep in the depths of your soul, there is nothing you can ever do that can make God love you any less.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38-39

Happy Valentine’s Day!

-A.C