You are the BELOVED
Does it feel awkward to embrace those words? We hear so many negative voices from the world. Their volume booming around us, sending a persistent message that you are not loved, not intelligent, unpopular and unattractive. It can drive us into a pit of self-rejection. Then, caught in the mire, the voices easily persuade us that success, popularity, and power are what make us attractive. Or maybe it is having the cute new shoes that give us acceptance, a new hair cut or color, or your facebook post going viral.
We reject ourselves and wear the label of being unworthy of love. We look around desperately for someone or something to show us that we are the Beloved.
Why is believing that we are dearly loved so difficult?
Self-rejection is a giant wall, blocking our view from seeing the beauty that God has placed in us and on us.
Perhaps it is because we see our own humanity, and broken pieces of shattered dreams so clearly.
But that is what God uses best – broken. Bread broken for you, broken fish and loaves of bread shared, a broken and contrite heart, His body broken for you. Only broken glass can create the stain glass window telling the stories of Christ – little pieces of broken glass that captivate our eyes as light shines through.
Artwork by Annie Barnett Photograph by Mary Bonner
Light through broken light can more quickly catch your eye.
Is broken really bad? Should it really be rejected? Or is it a place where we can share with a hurting world? Maybe it is our perspective. Maybe, broken and small is easier to accept than a large perfect life.
Broken is painful. I can respond to Christ as both Mary and Martha did at the death of Lazarus. I start, like Mary, by hiding away and refusing to talk to Christ because I am disappointed that he would allow pain in the life of one He calls, beloved.
Then, like Martha, I go charging up the hill, interrupting him in mid-sentence with accusations.
“Where have you been? If you had been here none of this would have happened. You knew I couldn’t fix this, you knew this would happen…and you let it! You could have done something and you didn’t… now I’m hurt and hate my life.
Self-rejection.
Instead of recognizing our error, we want to attach blame to something or someone to ease the pain. Maybe we simply don’t want to face our own humanity. So passing blame helps to hide our imperfections that we loathe.
You are Beloved – dearly loved.
No matter what the booming voices of the world say, you are chosen. The pit you are driven into is an illusion that disappears when we begin to recognize and accept the truth. He loves you – Despite all of your broken places and because of all of your beautiful broken places.
Believing, knowing and living as the beloved is a battle. It is choosing to believe Him over the world and it requires digging into scripture. The deeper you dig, the greater the treasure. All things of great value are hidden in the deep places.
Your job is to dig – His is to reveal. He gives His beloved love letters. Watch the world around you and you will find His love letters. Perhaps you will see a leaf in your path in the shape of a heart, the letter Y for Yahweh in the branches of the trees in your yard – his monogram on your life. Maybe it is a sunrise more spectacular than any you have ever seen, the one morning you can’t sleep and get up early. Maybe it is particular wording said by the preacher, or friend, that only God would know you were thinking. These are love letters to you, the Beloved.
“May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security by Him, who shields him all the day, and the beloved dwells between His shoulders” Deuteronomy 33:12
Today, let us rest our head on the shoulders of the one who loves us. We are the Beloved.
How can you rest on his shoulders today?
Read this post by Diane and remember that all of our brokenness is useful.
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What comfort and blessing to know we are beloved by Him!! Great message. 🙂
Absolutely~ We are His beloved.
Diane, I. LOVE. THIS. “All things of great value are hidden in the deep places” – such beautiful truth in these words.
Thank you Teresa. I think that could apply to your ministry of modesty too. All gold is buried deep and not for all eyes to see.
Beloved is one my favorite names. What I have found in my own walk? When I’m listening to all this negative mind chatter, I fail to understand God and how He not only sees me, but how He values each woman. I feel that He has allowed and used brokenness in my own life…..so I’d draw near to better know His heart. Beautiful and important words Diane.
Listening to negative can tarnish us all and dull the light God has placed in us. I think he does allow broken places, to make us more in his image, to draw us near and to help others see him in us through our broken places. Thank you Rhonda.