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The holiday season is coming in fast! Isn’t that always how it feels? This time of year can bring about a great deal of anxiety for people. Not only from outward pressures (holiday gatherings, presents, travel, etc.) but primarily from inward pressures. Pressures that people put on themselves to have reached a certain point in their lives. Often during the year, that pressure can be subdued, yet when this time of year rolls around, it ramps up with fierceness! Thoughts of seeing family and old friends and attending work parties and holiday events can have us all spinning in a downward spiral. Let’s get proactive. Strengthen your God image and renew your confidence to show how wonderful you are!!
*You are loved. The creator of all the universe is deeply in love with you. If you were the only person left on earth, God would still have sacrificed His son to regain a relationship with you! You cannot do anything to earn His love. His love will not increase if you do better. His love will not decrease if you mess up. He loves you because He loves you. Period. Nothing can separate you from His love – ever! (Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:35-39)
*You are not alone. This is the loneliest time of year for so many people. Even when surrounded by bodies, the loneliness can be overwhelming. You are not alone. You are never alone as a child of God! You have been given the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. The Lord has promised, again and again, never to leave you nor forsake you. As dark as your surroundings may seem, the Lord is with you! (Deuteronomy 31:6, John 14:16)
*You are not your past. When Christ said on the cross, “It is finished,” he meant it. He is not a man that he should lie. It – all of it – is finished. You made mistakes, we all have, which is why we needed a savior, yet those are no longer defining you. You are a new creation in Christ – which means that when your past tries to come calling, your number has been disconnected permanently!! There is no more condemnation in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) You may need to set boundaries with people who cannot see you for who you are now. Reach out for support with that. It hurts, and it's hard. Jesus understands that very deeply. (Hebrews 4:15) Remember, He loves you and is with you.
*Your journey is your own. God uniquely designed you to serve a specific purpose in His eternal plan. You are not supposed to be doing what so and so is doing. (So and so might not even supposed to be doing what they’re doing!) No step is wasted when you submit your life to the Lord! When you submit to the Lord's leading, your actions in life are ultimately part of His design. Other people might not understand it; you might not understand it either, yet you can be confident that a submitted life is a guided life! Trust that the Lord has a plan; He is executing that plan (even without you knowing), and His plan is for your good! (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 37:23-24)
Hold your head up confidently; your King is in control! Go boldly and enjoy this holiday season to the fullness; you are worthy!!
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cover image: Alexander Suhorucov