One of the last songs I sang along with on my drive this morning was “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. I particularly love the reminder in the chorus.

“You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing”. How many times do I feel unloved and unlovable? Too many to count. But this reminds me that my feelings aren’t what truly matters, it’s what God says is true that matters. “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Ps 36:7) 

“You say I am strong when I think I am weak”. Without God’s strength I am powerless against the evil in this world. “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor 12:9)

“And you say I am held when I am falling short”. The truth is without the Lord, I will never be enough and none of us were designed to be. We were created to seek God and His provision. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is 41:10).

“And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours”. In this life people come into our lives seasonally, and then they are gone for any number of reasons. It’s easier to look at the loss, rather than see the truth that we are not alone and we do belong. Truthfully, if we don’t weed our own garden, the Lord will pull of the weeds for us, because ultimately He does all for our good and for His glory. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Pet 2:9)

“And I believe what You say of me….The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me; In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity”. It’s a difficult but worthwhile lesson to learn that others’ opinions of us really don’t matter in the grand scheme. What matters is what God says. He says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). He also says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17) 

While we are being perfected, we haven’t achieved perfection — trust me by far! But I trust God’s promises that He will complete the work He began in me, and there’s no reason for me to fear anyone or anything as long as I am His. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). And standing in my trust for what He is doing within me for His glory that He was able to take the hot mess that I am and transform me, is amazing. But I must abide in Him and His Word. Seeking Him first, gives me His peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)