you are loved.

You are loved.

Oh precious daughter of the King. Oh precious son of the King. You are loved.

Sometimes that may be hard to grasp, especially in our world today. And ESPECIALLY when the enemy has you blinded. I’ve been there. I’ve been in a place where the enemy has had me so badly blinded to the love around me, that it seemed like there was no hope. It didn’t even seem like Jesus could rescue me (even though I knew He could).

Let me back up a little.

Several years ago, I went through a really tough time in my life. I felt that I was worth absolutely nothing. I couldn’t look in the mirror. I absolutely hated what I saw. I felt that no one around me loved me. I was that girl in the midst of a crowd that felt lonelier than ever. I would just cry because I felt so lonely. I put on a good show. Not many knew I was feeling this way. They were there for me, yet I felt like I had no one. I even wondered, “If I wasn’t to exist anymore, would they even care?” And to be honest, I felt like they wouldn’t.

Feeling this way wasn’t due to anything or anyone around me. I was just so caught up and tangled in the lies of Satan that I couldn’t see a way out. And from this side of it, I can’t even tell you how I started to believe those lies, but he’s sneaky. I had to constantly remind myself of 2 Corinthians 10: 5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

It was probably the darkest time of my life. Yet, I still clung on to Jesus. I didn’t know why I had to go through this. I didn’t know why I wasn’t feeling loved. But can I tell you something? I am SO glad I kept clinging onto Him. He delivered me! He pulled me out of the hole I was in. And I will forever be grateful for that. It wasn’t an overnight process, but He kept pursing me and loving me, and the scales on my eyes eventually gave way so I could see the love that He had for me.

Why did I go back to tell you that? Because I know what it is to feel like you’re unloved and not wanted. But why tell you now? Well, if I’m going to be honest, I still have moments (even in the last few weeks) of not feeling loved. But God is continually showing me that I am loved.

Being loved isn’t defined by whether I have a boyfriend or not. Being loved isn’t defined by how well I perform at something. Being loved isn’t defined by how many friends I have. It’s definitely not defined by how many Facebook friends I have or how many Instagram likes I get. It’s defined by CHRIST.

I am a child of God. I am loved by Christ. I have a Savior who lived a perfect life, yet still died on the cross for me AND for you. He LOVED us enough to take on our sin, and to rise again, so that we may live eternally with Him. He is still active and He is still moving. He is constant.

He loves us enough to have a unique plan for each of us. It’s all part of His greater plan. He is actively pursuing us and drawing us nearer to Him. He has a hope and a future for us. More than my words, allow the Word of God to speak to you.

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” –Jeremiah 29:11

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” –Psalm 139:13-14

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” –Zephaniah 3:17

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”-Ephesians 2:4-5

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:8

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” –Luke 12:7

You are loved. End of story. No matter where you are at. No matter what the world tells you. No matter the way you are feeling. No matter the lies the enemy is feeding you. YOU ARE LOVED.

Don’t ever forget that.

I can’t sit here and pretend to know what you are going through or the ways you are feeling, but I do know one thing for sure. You are worth more. The Savior of the world loves you more than you will ever know. He loves you enough to die for you. And He cares for you. You are valuable.

You. Are. Loved.