Who Told You That You were Not Enough?

How many blogs land in your inbox each month? And how many do you actually read? If you are still here reading these words, thank you for taking time out of your precious day. My prayer is that my words bring life and encouragement to your heart.

I am just one of many authors—an ambivert who functions well in a crowd but deeply craves quiet and solitude. What about you? Do crowds energize you, or do you blossom best in the quiet places only you and God see?

Each one. Each life. Each person. You matter.

I say this because one of the enemy's greatest tactics is to minimize our worth—to convince us we are unseen, unimportant, or lacking. But today, I want to celebrate you.

You are uniquely created. Crafted with the same intricate care God gave the birds of the air, the creatures of the sea, the wildlife roaming the earth, and the endless clouds scattered across the sky on any given day.

I know you have likely read this verse many times before, yet it never loses its power:

"For You (God) formed my inward parts: You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14

What a concept, to actually praise God for how we are made. This really hit me. I asked myself...when was the last time I truly praised or thanked God for the person He created me to be? Honestly… maybe never. How about you?

It is so easy to notice our flaws first—the extra weight, the imperfections, the changes that come with time. But those things do not define our value.

The truth is…

You are a lovely creation.  Relevant. Filled with gifts, talents, compassion, and words of encouragement that only you can offer this world.

Lately, I have begun asking God each morning, How can I be used today? Who do You want me to pray for? What encouragement do You want me to speak?

I have been amazed to discover that by the end of the day, God has always placed someone on my heart. A text message to send. Words to write in a card and mail. A neighbour in need of time and kindness. A stranger at the grocery store who could use a smile. And oh, so many prayers to lift into the heavens.

Yes, you—that beautiful soul so fearfully and wonderfully made—have so much to give this world. The outer shell is only a shadow of who we truly are. If we spent as much time tending our hearts as we do our appearances, this world would become a far more beautiful place.

This struggle to discover our true worth touches so many of us, which is why it is woven deeply into my multi-award-winning novels, Jeanette's Gift and Mara the Unseen Battle. Through Jeanette's journey from overlooked wallflower to a woman blooming in God's love, and Mara's road to healing after being raised to believe she was worthless, my hope is that readers are reminded of this truth:

Our beauty has always begun within—in that quiet place where we were formed so beautifully, so wonderfully, by a God who loves us completely.

Here is a great song by Rachael Nemiroff called Beautifully & Wonderfully Made. Give it a listen it will lift your soul.