There is a level of trust that you need to have in someone to be able to bare yourself to them; but beyond that, and more importantly, there is a level of security you need to have beyond that person. Because what happens if they don’t respond the way you want them to?  Or what happens if they do? How will the pain of rejection or the joy from acceptance affect you?

If you are secure in yourself (in who you are in Christ), then neither the pain nor the joy will be centre of the affections or relationship. Because yes, there is a pain that comes with rejection, and there is a joy that comes when you feel accepted, but ultimately it is who you are that makes you overcome or enjoy these respective experiences in the right way.

And when I say, “who you are”, I don’t mean who you are in yourself, but I refer to someone bigger, i.e. God, because of who he is, and therefore what you have in him – who you are in him. He ultimately is the centre – not them and not you.

So while I was searching  for scriptures that practically affirm my worth (and yes we need to in the right context), I came across this quote by Thomas Brooks, quoted by John Piper*, referring to “who you are”…

“Beloved in our dearest Lord, you are those worthies ‘of whom this world is not worthy,’ Hebrews 11:38. You are the princes ‘that prevail with God,’ Genesis 32:28. You are those ‘excellent ones’ in whom is all Christ’s delight, Psalm 16:3. You are his glory. You are his picked, culled, prime instruments which he will make use of to carry on his best and greatest work against his worst and greatest enemies in these latter days.”

It is always freeing to remember the truth about ourselves and about God. Be comforted dear heart. ❤

PS: Other scripture references you could look up:

John 10:28-29

 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Romans 8:35-39:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 118:6-7

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

Search the scriptures, for there lies a great treasure! 🙂