It’s an interesting time of year…Lent. Each year I challenge the congregation to adopt a discipline for the duration of Lent. This year it’s clearing out our emotional storehouses of unresolved anger, shame, hurt and other such hurtful and destructive emotions. Shame, in particular, is a horrible emotion to hold on to. It is destructive, all-consuming and can completely shut us off from the love of God.
What we often fail to recognise is that, even in our brokenness, God reaches through and surrounds us. It is in the middle of night raging, when we feel most vulnerable and alone; that is where God meets us. God loves us through the brokenness and often, despite the brokenness.
We don’t have to make sure our shoes are shined and our teeth are brushed to be with God. We simply have to be and God is there. Always has been. Always will be.
It’s a time of year for us to shift our priorities; to look inwards and really look. To peer into the deep dark recesses that we deliberately shy away from. To take a good, hard look at who we were. We must release these negative emotions, or they may hold us hostage. We must realise our value and worth, because nobody else will do it for us.
Each and every one of us is a beloved child of God. We were created in perfection; not societies perfection, but God’s perfection.
Remind yourself of these three things:
I am worthy.
I am loved.
I am perfect.
Tape them to a mirror if you have to. Say them over and over again. One day you’ll believe them. Why? Because they are true.
You ARE worthy.
You ARE loved.
You ARE perfect.
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