We spend a large portion of our life on a journey of figuring out who we are. I want to discover my true identity, unlock the hidden compartments of my heart, and transform just like a butterfly, so majestic in detail. Every little girl runs wild with her imagination to find herself, and somewhere along the road to discovery she starts conforming to popular demand and what culture says she should be.
Have confidence knowing that God chose you to experience the very life He placed you in. We lose patience with God’s timeline, and that is when we compromise and begin losing faith in His design for our life. We seek to understand where God wants us instead of trusting that He has our best interest in mind. His heart breaks at the thought of our extreme unhappiness as we try and cultivate a life for ourselves that was meant for someone else.
Can you imagine His hurt when we say:
“I’m not enough; her life is better, and that is the life I wish I had.”
Constantly dissatisfied with our looks, we change it over and over again. Each time we express disdain with the person we were created to be, it pricks His heart.
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
We seek clarification for who we are and how we fit into this world, but our identity in Christ is always crystal clear. That is where our true sense of belonging unfolds, in the arms of Christ. Oh, the grief and mourning we would save ourselves if we could just be content in the life that God has given us! Our joy, strength, and happiness are all tied to our identity in Him.
You have value in Christ, and the moment you are brave enough to allow that vulnerability in your life, you will find your sense of belonging. It’s not in the way you dress, your waist size, the color of your hair, if you have freckles or not, curly or straight hair, glasses or contacts, pale or tan skin… The list of comparison goes on and on, but that’s not where your contentment lies.
If Sunday school taught us anything, it was that we were all made precious in His sight — that, and of course, passing out after singing Father Abraham!
We find freedom in accepting and truly owning the woman/girl that God created us to be.
Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Wow! We are meant for so much more than comparison! We are designed to live boldly before the throne and ordained to spread His word to all who walk the earth. He knew exactly who you were and who you should be, and while you were still growing in the womb, He knew the outcome of your story. It wasn’t for you to live life wondering what it would be like to be the girl across the room!
This Western culture is throwing our worth in our face on a daily basis. The message is always how short we fall. We treat our symptoms of self-doubt with anxiety medication and a shut-in mentality which only Band-Aids the problem at hand. We have bought into the idea that our circumstance will never change, we will always be a hot mess, and slowly, we become numb to reality.
Stand up and show your true beauty as a warrior. Be brave and say, “No longer will I allow my life to be ruled by pop culture.” This is the life God envisioned for you, one of confidence in Him. Fear will tell you that it’s impossible to come boldly out of your shell and show the world the real, unapologetic version of you. Other girls watching will be in awe of the confidence and courage you possess through your brave heart.
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Hide God’s word in your heart; it will shine through. An outward change of style and appearance is not how you find your true destiny; it’s an inward change that will bring forth an evident transformation in your life and unveil your raw, unfiltered identity. Don’t be afraid to be the beautiful, brave girl that God designed you to be.
XOXO – Denisha
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Denisha Patterson is a 32- year-old mom and pastor’s wife at Faith Tabernacle UPC in Conyers, GA. Her husband Michael also serves as Georgia’s district youth president. Denisha and her husband have two handsome boys that keep her motivated to stay young! Her passion is writing, but she also sings when she can. More than anything, Denisha gets way too excited about cuddling up with a big cozy blanket, a cup of coffee, and a good book.