The Virtuous Daughter Magazine Fall 2017 edition Cherish | Page 26

“
My identity has nothing to
do with how I feel or how
well I perform.
He loves
me
because
He IS
love.
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how much he loves you. After all, we
know our own weaknesses and failures
so well.
The story of my life is actually about
Him, and I can rest in His arms, knowing
that He is doing all things well. When I
exchange my need to understand and see
perfectly now with resting in the person
of Jesus, I am freed to see new depths of
His love for me. By beholding Him, I am
changed. Earthly pressures and expecta-
tions fade and suddenly I’m longing for
more important, eternally lasting things.
But love is more than an emotion; it is
a commitment to stay, to hold close, to
cherish, no matter what comes. I never
imagined on my wedding day how in-
credibly hard the next three years would
be, how deeply my life would be shaken.
We lost two babies, moved to the mission
field, and my brother drowned while on a There is a freedom here.
visit to see us in Honduras.
Loving, and being loved, is the safest
place to be. And you do not need to be
But neither did I have any idea how pro- married or dating to have love change
foundly personal God’s love would be-
your life.
come. He walked with me through those Today, Jesus is cherishing you. You can
seasons and taught me that no matter
walk confidently, knowing His banner
what I face, He is there. On the days
over you is love.
when I felt like I could hardly get out of
bed, when the loss was so crushing.
You have been chosen. You are creat-
And on the days when my delightful
ed in His image for a specific purpose.
firstborn smiled and my heart would
And like Esther, you have been chosen
burst with joy.
for such a time as this.
God was there.
He has prepared you for all you will
And He adored me, no matter what.
face.
His story for you is one of redemption
and joy.
My identity has nothing to do with how
I feel or how well I perform. He loves me
because He IS love. And the more I let
You are his treasured daughter.”
His love carry my heart, the softer and
more pliable I became. In those moments
when I felt so unloveable, He sang over
me.
”
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