You are precious

"You are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you.."

-Isaiah 43:4

One morning, I sat with one of my Sunday school kids. She faced bullying at her school, which made her feel like an outcast and led her to believe, 'Everyone would be happier if I just disappeared.' Despite having a condition called scoliosis and undergoing seven surgeries by the age of eleven, she continues to fight. Her strength is a testament to the bright future that awaits her. If only they knew the strength she carried that inspired me. Do you realize how precious and loved you are?

It is in our nature to devalue ourselves and our worth, especially in the eyes of the world, which can reflect how we see ourselves. We forget that we are cherished and valuable in God's eyes.

Isaiah 43:4 is a beautiful verse that reveals how precious and honored we are in His sight. It presents themes that are the core foundation of the Christian Faith - love, value, honor, and protection- and expresses God's relationship with us. It serves as a reminder of God's unwavering love and care towards us and our worth in His sight. "Since you are precious," God sees us as something of great worth and value to Him and "..honoured in my sight," showing the dignity and respect God bestows on His people, reinforcing the idea of our value in His eyes. "..Because I love you.." emphasizes God's deep and abiding love for us, freely given, with grace and reflecting God's character and true nature. His everlasting love towards us.

So what makes us precious? Honored and loved?

It all goes back to the beginning, in the book of Genesis, when God created mankind.

"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.." - Genesis 1:26

"With God as the author of the world's story, He blazes us onto the pages of history as His image bearers - something unique from everything else He made. We are touched by God's glory as His special creation and because of that we know we are wholly loved. God loves His handiwork. Taken to its beautiful conclusion, being made in His image helps us to love in three ways:

1. We love the one who created us, as a child loves a parent

2. we love ourselves because God's created us endorsing us with uniqueness and value

3. We love others because they too bear His image yet are delightfully original. This variety reveals the fullness of God's love."

   
   

   - reference - Radiant Virtues Bible-

"The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

- Job 33:4

How wonderful it is to know that we were created in God's image and have His breath flowing through us? The moment God breathed into us, we became valuable and precious, given the Holy Spirit. We are so precious to Him that even though we were fallen sinners and doomed as the children of Adam, God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that we would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16-17). God loved us so much that He molded us into His image - His purity, loving, kindness, compassionate and forgiving. While undeserving, we are still gifted the gift of grace. It is a blessing to be loved by our Father, God the Father, regardless of our age, shape, size, saint and even sinner. No matter who we are, it is an open invitation to join Him at His table, to dine with Him and for Him to wash our feet.

"For you have formed my inwards parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

-Psalms 139:13-14

Be still - Raphah

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" - Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46 expresses how a world created with order and harmony can turn to turmoil and chaos.

"Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah" - Psalm 46:2-3.

Amid all this chaos, God's peace and harmony reign, as the Psalm continues, "God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." Psalm 46:5. This Psalm also gives us inner peace and hope. While disorder and chaos occur, God asks us to "Be still and know." Know that He is constantly working; with just two words, He will calm the storm.

Be still! These are the two words Christ used to calm the storms of the Sea of Galilee. "Peace, be still!" - Mark 4:39. The first thing that comes to mind is to stop and not move a muscle, but that's not what Christ meant.

In Hebrew, the word for "be still" is Raphah. Raphah means to sink, relax, withdraw, be disheartened, refrain, let alone, and let go. Raphah is used 46 times in the Bible. The first we experience it is in Exodus, as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt free from the Pharaoh's slavery. They found themselves entrapped with the Red Sea before them and the Pharoh's army behind them. Finding themselves in distress, rather than fighting back themselves, they were instructed to do one thing :

"Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today... The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." - Exodus 14: 13-14

Be still and know. The Israelites didn't need to fight back, instead to "be still" because God fought for them. Exodus 14:14 reminds us that sometimes things are out of our control, and we may find ourselves in a trap we cannot escape. "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." This shows God's love for us and His desire to receive our burdens and fight our battles for us.

Be still and know. We all suffered the pain of loss at some point in our lives.

"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." - John 11:21-22.

Mary and Martha experienced the tragic loss of their brother, Lazarus, one whom even Christ wept for. As Mary mourned and lost hope, Martha "Knew." She knew that God would work His way, and without any doubt, as Christ claimed, "Your brother will rise again," Martha once again responded, "I know."

So Christ took away the stone on which Lazarus was lying and said, " Lazarus, come forth!" and Lazarus was raised from the dead.

"Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?"

-John 11:40

"Be still and know". Being still doesn't mean being silent or standing still. God wants us to surrender, to lose control, and to choose to depend wholly on Him. He wants us to abandon ourselves in Jesus Himself, to take His path. To regain control, one must first calm the storm in one's mind, heart, and life. The creations obey His voice! "He uttered His voice, the earth melted" - Psalms 46:6. Just as He calmed the storm of the sea of Galilee or when He allowed Jonah to be swallowed by the whale so he could sink in solitude and peace to redirect him to the path he was destined to take. To allow Him to split the Red Sea, we have come across and fight the battles we are about to face. Because, let's face it, we can't depend solely on ourselves.

" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

God is constantly working. Even when we don't know it, even when we can't feel it or see it, He is constantly working. Every day, He is fighting our battles. He has never stopped and never will.

"My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." - John 5:17

I found this wonderful " S.T.I.L.L" acronym that I would like to share with you.

S - stands for surrender. We must first surrender to God and stop trying to do everything ourselves. Embrace God's plan and the pace He set for your life.

T - stands for talk. Talk to God in prayer, and you will receive direction from Him.

I - stands for identify. Identify who we are in Christ. Stop striving to be something you are not, and calmly embrace the beauty of who Christ made us.

L - stands for look. I ask myself WWJD (what would Jesus do?) I look up to Him as an example, as a role model. He is the perfect example of stillness, just as he went up to the garden of Gethsemane and prayed the night before His arrest.

L - the last L stands for learn contentment. When we've accepted what God has for us, we won't waste time hustling for something that might not be for us in the first place.

-Prayer-

Father, this world we live in can be overwhelming. I thought I could handle it on my own, but I can't. With all the loud voices surrounding me, Lord... It is impossible to hear Your voice... Whispering in me. To be swallowed by a whale in complete darkness and solitude for three days doesn't sound like a bad idea. Journeying in the belly of the whale as I reflect, what's my purpose? Why am I here, and who am I? That moment of peace and quiet in the whale lets me finally hear Your whispers. The sound of your voice calmed the storm in me. Allow me to surrender myself entirely to You. Thank you, Lord, for You showed me the love and compassion You have for me by sending that whale to me. That whale saved me from drowning and redirected me to the right path that I was destined to take. Thank you for carrying my burdens and fighting my battles. Thank you, Father, that You have heard me. And I know that You always hear me.

Amen

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" - Psalms 147 : 13

“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” – Psalms 147:3

Jehovah Rapha: God the healer.

“Rapha” is Hebrew for Heal, but it is far deeper than just “healing”, it means to mend, repair or restore something to its natural or valuable state. Examples of Jehovah Rapha in the Bible: In Matthew 9:21, when the bleeding woman was healed from touching Christ’s cloak. Not only was she physically healed, but He also restored her to society after many years of suffering and being an outcast. In Capernaum, the Paralytic man in Matthew 9 was healed not only from paralysis but also his spirit after being forgiven of his sins.

“Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”

- Mark 2:8-10

We all have hidden wounds, from a heartbreak or grief from a loss. Healing takes time and the road to recovery can be painful both physically and mentally, just as a cancer patient going through a painful battle against cancer. Yes, it will hurt, no it wont’t be easy to.. but it is the hurt we must overcome to recover, especially with God’s grace and power by our side.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

 – Psalm 34:18

A promise made in the Bible assures us that God is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Reading this is comforting, you are not alone in this. God is the healer of the broken-hearted.

“…And binds up their wounds.” Just as a scab must be bandaged and protected from being infected by outside sources as it heals, so does our spiritual wound. As we heal, He bandages and protects our wounds with His word, love, and grace. Sometimes, bandaging a wound protects others from being infected by it as it heals. Heartbreak can cause harm to others, and binding it would prevent it from spreading or worsen

“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering… But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:4-5

This is another promise and proof of God’s unconditional love towards us, of how far and beyond He is willing to go, to protect and save us. “He took up our pain and bore our suffering”. He suffered for us to heal our hearts and bind up our wounds. He healed us by his blood, stripes, and wounds and cured heartbreaks by the word, which no one else can cure but Himself. Trust in His word, in His promise for what He has done for us as He went to the cross on our account and shed His blood on our behalf.

A moment of Quiet time

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”    - John 15:18

“Lord, I’m heartbroken, I’m feeling so much pain and suffering, Lord, I feel so isolated and hated. I’m trying my best, but in return, I’m betrayed. I was lied to and deceived. I can’t handle the loss of my loved one, Lord. Give me the grace and strength to endure this.”

“Dear child, I have been heartbroken once before and betrayed by my disciples; I can feel your pain. I was flogged, spat at and pushed by my children as I walked down the path of Via Dolorosa while carrying the heavy cross on my shoulders on my way to be crucified up on Golgotha. I’ve never felt ever so isolated. Regardless, I have endured all this because I love you. My child, it pains me to see you suffer and feel this pain; know that I am always by your side. My cross is your strength.”