Today’s lesson is about the importance of valuing yourself.

We are always hardest on ourselves. This is a mantra that I have had my whole life. I am never good enough, never strong enough, never smart enough, never enough. A friend of mine for almost twenty years is very similar to me. She is beautiful on the inside and out. She struggles with many of the same issues as myself: depression, anxiety, low self-worth. She also has many of the same characteristics I do: strength, compassion, loyalty, friendship, service, and leadership. She is willing to do what it takes to help anyone, at the same time having a hard time helping herself. Why do I bring this up? Is it to ridicule or belittle? Is it to show weakness? No. It is to show that no matter how strong someone seems, they have weakness. They need compassion, caring, love, and support. No matter how weak someone seems, they have strength that you would never know. It is up to all of us to get beyond the stereotypes of weak and strong. To get beyond what we think we should show to the world and be who God made us to be. Servants, leaders, friends, family, and worshippers.

We let our self-doubt, our worry, our depression, our “I’m not enough” to get in the way. By no means do I want to belittle mental health issues. By no way to do, I think that you just get up one day and say “I’m good enough. I’m strong enough. And gosh darn it, people like me”. It takes dedication, support, mental services, medications in some cases, and love to get through this rollercoaster called life.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

The Counting Crows has been one of my favorite groups since college. I love them musically, but mostly lyrically. In “Mr. Jones”, he says “I want to be a lion. Yeah, everybody wants to pass as cats. We all want to be big, big stars, yeah, but we got different reasons for that.” We all want to be big stars, but we don’t know why and we don’t know how”. We all want to show we have value to others. But in Matthew, Jesus says come to me. If you need rest. If you need an easier burden. Jesus will help you ease your burden. As they say one an airplane, put your mask on first, before putting on others. We need to look inside, value what we have, and lean on the Lord for his yoke is easy and burden is light. Do not fret. While this isn’t easy, it gives us guidance and refuge.

Are you ready to open your eyes to what the Lord has in store for you? Are you ready to take on his yoke? Are you ready to see the beauty that he has given you?

I am ready (with the help of God)

#57of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney