You are a child of God. You are not alone in this world. God invites you into His presence to spend time with Him and to receive His love for you.
In August the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina are a canvas of lush green, painted with colorful flowers and golden sunshine. As I walked the winding trail through the woods, I’d stop to read Scriptures engraved in bronze plaques or on benches that beckoned me to sit. I had come to this retreat alone and the crevice in my heart ached to belong.
Something in my soul stirred me to invite Jesus to walk through the garden with me. I had never considered this before. As I did, I felt a tangible loving presence next to me that brought gentle peace and delightful joy.
John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed Him, and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” (NLT) In our familiarity with this verse, it’s easy to miss the significance and weight of this truth.
Even though I was born to parents who loved me, they were emotionally wounded themselves. Their parenting was often expressed in abusive and damaging ways. As a result, I felt alone and afraid in the world more than I felt accepted or safe. Our beliefs drive our behavior and I believed I had to perform to earn love, act a certain way to survive, rely on myself because others could not be trusted, hide parts of myself so I would not be rejected, and achieve for acceptance. Deep down I did not believe I was enough. I found comfort in over-achievement, busyness, and counterfeit affections, like the high of infatuation and rush of power when I won someone’s affection.
Yet, here was Jesus inviting me to trust Him, to find my source of comfort in the soothing power of His presence and love. Inviting me to know within every fiber of my being that I am a beloved daughter of the King. I belong to Him and have been adopted into His family. Being in the presence of God changes us.
That day, the source of my identity shifted, and I began to grow into the Truth of who I am.
Insecurity that had me jumping through people pleasing hoops was replaced by a quiet, secure confidence. Striving and busyness that led me to exhaustion, was replaced with courage to rest and be who God created me to be.
My identity is no longer based on what I do, but who Christ is. Not who I am, but who I belong to.
I am a beloved child of God, the King of the Universe. Dear friend, so are you.
Editor's Note:
This blog is by Freedom to Flourish Life Coaching Founder and Christian Life Coach, Jen Stone-Sexton. She is currently accepting new clients. You can learn more about Jen here.
Jennifer Stone-Sexton © 2022 Freedom to Flourish Life Coaching All Rights Reserved.
Photo Credits: Cover Photo & Photo 3 by Jared-Subia- on Unsplash |
Photo 1 by Kevin Wolf on Unsplash | Photo 2 by Dev-Benjamin on Unsplash