What’s aching in your soul today? What pains are stinging your sides, causing you to limp in weakness? What worries and fears have paralyzed you, keeping you from pursuing God and His plans for you? What disappointments have turned into discouragement and then turned into defeat? What’s weighing you down? What’s making you want to give up?
You know, your soul was created to feel deeply. It was created to sing and rejoice and worship . . . and to cry and experience pain. Your Creator didn’t make a mistake when He allowed you to feel deep, complex emotions. He knew that you, sweet girl, would have a soul that could be filled to the brim with indescribable joy, but one that could also be drained and dried up in sorrow.
The enemy knows that, too. He knows how sensitive you are to different emotions. He knows how intensely you’re able to feel. He uses it to his advantage. He seeks to find you weak and wearied, and he tempts you with doubting, discouraging, hopeless thoughts. And he’d like to leave you with the worst of thoughts—the ones that say you’ll never be loved, you’ll never accomplish anything for God, and you might as well stop trying.
But you were made for more.
You were made for joy. You were made for steadfast faith. You were made for reveling in the grace of Christ’s cross. You, precious and loved girl, are made for Him.
The Lover of your soul has created you for the most beautiful of tasks—glorifying Him in radiant joy.
Don’t let the enemy whisper failure into your soul for one moment longer. Don’t let him quench the life of power you’re called to live. Don’t allow the darkness overshadow your heart.
Turn to the saving grace of God, the love that took your place on the cross, and cling to the freedom from guilt, despair, destruction, and defeat. Christ is alive in you. Live through Him.
Your tears may still fall. Your stomach may still ache. Your mind may struggle to shake the self-condemning thoughts that seem to play out like clockwork. It’s hard, I know. Because it’s a battle. Clamoring for joy in the midst of a deep, dark pit requires a fight—but it’s a fight Christ promises to win for you through grace. Let His love be your battle cry.
Though the shadows seem strong, His light is stronger.
So where do you go from here? To His Word. Not for a quick-fix verse to hold onto for a few days, but for the healing balm of comfort where you’ll find Christ each and every day. Oh, how your soul needs His words to you. You need to know the truth. You need the foundation of faith that will draw you closer to Christ and into deeper intimacy with Him.
It’s there—in the Word—that you’ll find what you need to press on victoriously. Faith. Hope. Joy. Fellowship with Christ.
Sweet girl, you weren’t made for giving up. You were made for finding victory in Your Savior and shining His light into the dark shadows of this world.
You were made for Him. Always remember that.
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me (Ps. 13).
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16).
By Samantha Nieves
