UNITING A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS
God has really been connecting with me amazing Christian women all over the world who have a heart for Jesus. I was recently added to a group on Instagram of other Christian women bloggers and writers. They are women from around the world whose main goal is to glorify God in all they do. Whenever we post something on our own Instagram we text UNITE in our group chat. We all read each other’s post, comment and support what the other is doing. It started off to help with engagement but what I love about God is his purpose is always greater than our own. What God has done through me in this group in the last couple days has brought inspiration, wisdom, discernment and joy. It has sharpened me to see other women chasing Jesus through words. Letting his light and glory shine through them as we all walk the such different places in life. It has given me strength to see their transparent struggles, tenaciousness and love for Jesus. It’s give me this authentic and raw look at other women on this same journey I am.
Little do these woman know is I struggle with self image. I tend to see myself with other’s filter and not God’s image. I struggle with the idea that I am not enough. I tend to see other people doing amazing things but instead of seeing myself doing them I retreat in my mind and say ” You can never be like that” or” You are not talented enough to ever do that’. I have had two significant relationships that has affected my self image and self worth. I was married for 15 years and divorced four years ago. That divorce gave my children a much safer space to grow up. What it did was mess with my mind. Telling me I was not worthy to be kept or good enough to be desired for long term. The last relationship I had made me think God made a mistake in the way he created me. That the things I valued the most in myself were inherently wrong. It made me think that I could never be a good enough parent, servant, Christ follower or woman. God has been showing me that I am not defined by man’s standards. He is my only audience and as long as I keep my eyes fixed on him them he will take care of the rest.
In Genesis 1:27 it says”So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. I am created in his image and not that of man. God has been cultivating a developing my inner strength and self worth. He is stirring this lioness inside who is not afraid to be bold and worthy. He is helping me understand that sometimes living for him means standing alone allowing him to comfort and guide you. He is helping transform my mind to not accept the words or ideas others have for you. To stand firm on his truth knowing that he is my judge and defender. Everytime we text I see UNITE I’m refueled knowing that there are women brave enough to live for him even in a culture that says the opposite. I see UNITE knowing we are coming together for a common purpose to be put together forming a single unit of strength, love and perseverance. He knew that UNITE was that fuel I needed to ignite this girl living inside who refuses to back down, be tore down or given less.