I am reading the newest Brené Brown book, Rising Strong. So prepare yourself for all kinds of life-changing quotes about worthiness and hustling and vulnerability and all those great words. But really, whenever I read Brené Brown’s writings I am always pulled back to my favorite soapbox – the one where I get serious and forget to breathe and use run on sentences and point my finger at you and say Don’t you DARE believe those lies you are telling yourself. You are worthy and complete and not defined by your shame or mistakes and Jesus LOVES you so so deeply and fully, not for what you can do for Him but because of what He did for you, not in spite of your sin and mistakes but because you are His beloved daughter/son.

Deep breath.

Honestly though, friend – we are in this crazy world that won’t slow down and everyday there is conflict, tragedy, death, disagreement, hate, judgment, shame, and so many other terrible things. We get hung up on the small things, the trivial fights, the insignificant disagreements, and forget the bigger picture. I feel like I always come back to the same place on this blog and in my heart, but maybe that is the way God intends it…He is always bringing us back to a space of love and peace; He is constantly inviting us back into His Presence where we are made whole and can live abundantly.

I have taken to praying for God’s favor. For His favor to be on me, my work, my relationships, my life. Throughout Scripture we see people pray for His favor. We see the amazing way that He works in the lives of those who His favor rests upon. I want that for my life. I want that for your life. I am praying for His favor to rest on His people – that we no longer need to live in fear of this world, but live in confidence of His favor upon us. We can know that no matter what we experience, He is trustworthy and in control. The book of Nehemiah essentially has bookends of this request. In chapter 1:11, he prays, “Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” The very last sentence of the book says, “Remember me with favor, my God.”

What better request could we make of Him? And what greater confidence could we have than to know that His favor already is on us?

Sweet friend, you are so much more than the world says you are. You are so incomparably beautiful, matchlessly designed, unbelievably loved. God knew you and loved you before you took your first breath, He fashioned you in His own Image. You were formed for a purpose so much bigger than you can even imagine. This is the most important theology.

We are made not for our own sake, but for God’s sake. To bring His Kingdom to this earth. We are here to be light in a dark place, salt in a tasteless environment. We are here to show the love of Christ by being fully us, fully living. We are living in His favor.

He asks us to surrender all else, for the sake of knowing Him and being known by Him. Only when He is our sole focus can we truly experience the fullness of life. We may never know the extent to which we have limited God’s work in our lives by holding so tightly onto earthly things.

May we rest in the knowledge of His favor, His love, and His grace. May our prayer be for His favor always, to know and do His will, and to live out of the love that He has so graciously given us. May you never doubt that you are treasured, valued, known, and loved more deeply and fully than our human hearts can handle.