I was asked to write a letter for a women's event to encourage an anonymous young woman, sister in Christ. I figured I would post it here, check it out below.
Dear Sisters in Christ,
There are so many things that I would like to say and express to you in this letter. I have thought long and hard about what I would write and how I would write it. Finally, I decided that I would simply compose a list of the things that I have to remind myself of on a daily basis. Here we go:
1. Your identity and worth is based solely on the fact that you belong to Jesus. It is intrinsic. It does not decrease because of your past, your present, or your future. Your value is sealed by the blood of Jesus. It will not change if your hair is a mess tomorrow or if you get a B on an assignment.
2. Pain, hurt,and heartbreak are real and they cut deep. Grace, love,and forgiveness are real too and 1000x greater.
3. The enemy and even our feelings lie to us. Nothing can combat the lies, like the truth of God's word.
4. Darkness only breeds more darkness. Everything we hide will eventually come to the light, eat us up on the inside, or both.
5. Church hurt is REAL, but it does not give us an excuse to avoid fellowship with other believers. Your brothers and sisters who inflicted pain upon you need grace, just like you.
6. Community is essential. In fact, it's what God has called us to. There are brothers and sisters in the faith who are willing to grow with you, seeking community in a local church body is essential.
7. God's plans are better than ours, even when it seems like they are not, even when we have no idea where we are headed.
8. You were created by a God of love to love and be loved. Love is an action word, just do it.
9. There is nothing you could do that could make God's love for you lessen OR increase.
10.God's grace is sufficient. God's grace is sufficient. God's grace is sufficient.
I pray that you would remember these things when the going gets tough and the lies of the enemy get loud.
With Love,
Brittany T. Paschall
