Hairy. Awkward. Out of place. We can all feel this way at times. The foamy, hard waves of doubt and insecurity can crush the spirit. And, that devastating sea wall can sting leaving us cold, afraid and uncertain. My dear one – never feel uncertain when you are engraved in Christ’s hands.

The impact of the wave and diffidence in this stone cold world is downright dreadful. Simply staggering because our soul was meant to soar! Yet, we can become so downtrodden by the day, circumstances and harsh words that lash us like cattails.

Rejoice in your features. Dance in your distinction. Garner goose bumps after hearing your one-of-a-kind voice. Yes, we are all created different and that is something to celebrate. Red curls top my head and freckles line my face with subtle dimples; whereas others have hair as black as the night and skin like toasted almonds. What visions in the image of Christ!

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

It breaks my heart to see women and men alike – hold their heads in shame over their beautiful images. I, myself, am guilty of this from time to time. But, the truth is – you were created with a purpose and a master design.

Like a dream house that has intricate blueprints – you were a dream and the vision of your maker. Your smile was formed by his hands and your hair woven together in his goodness. Goofy and overused as the phrase is – you were born an original, don’t die a carbon copy.

It is calming to study all the marvelous creatures that God made by his mighty hands. No species is the same. You have the little bumpy frog that ribbits comfortably on a pond of floating seats and the Scottish highland cow that roams the meadows peacefully covered from head to toe in long orange hair. Each beautiful creations in the Maker’s sight.

However, they were not made in his image – we were! How much more does he care for us. It is unbelievable; we can never fully grasp how much God loves us. He sacrificed his son to save us. That is utmost love.

“If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning… Face it, friend. He is crazy about you! ” Max Lucado

Let us not walk around defeated, feeling inferior. Today consider this post a daily dose of encouragement. You are precious in his sight. You carry God’s light and that, my dear one, is nothing to be ashamed of.

Shine that light brightly. You were made for a purpose – no matter how awkward or out of place you feel. And, God has you in his sight. You will never be alone. That is amazing grace.

My profession is one that requires thick skin. Politics. Insults are hurled, names are called and facts are more often than not – twisted and gnarled. In a world that is fallen and not our own, I guess this should be expected. I have learned to lean not on my own understanding and in all my ways acknowledge him and he will direct my paths.

Yes – God is at work in you and he will not (never ever) forsake you. Yet, reading insults are hard (even if they are not about you). They eat at your core and your spirit. They create a heavy heart and disappointment.

I am a firm believer in encouragement – that we need to build each other up in love (1 Thessalonians 5: 11-12). Why aren’t we doing this more often – in politics and personal lives?

Everyone is going to disagree. We all were formed with different, diverse minds. And, thank God for that! Like 1 Corinthians says, we all cannot be the ear of the body – we have to have arms, eyes and knees to make everything work in a cohesive pattern in the Body of Christ. So debate is not what I am talking about when I mention insults. I am talking about the bitter, biting personal attacks – ones that attack someone’s character without getting to know their soul.

As a conservative, I have seen it coming from the liberal side more often (merely because this is the pattern I observe regularly). But, we are all to blame. Whatever happened to the command, ‘Love one another as I have loved you?’ We certainly do not have to agree with someone to love them – and lift them up in prayer.

I point a finger back at myself writing this little post. I have been guilty of this thought process to accuse those that are not like you. However, novel thought, instead of condemning them, why don’t we lift the accused in our minds up in prayer to God the Father? Pray for those who persecute you that is a Biblical promise.

Jesus displayed this best, when he uttered on the bloody cross: Father forgive them for they know not what they do. He also famously said – those without sin, cast the first stone.

My knuckles have been white a time or two from clutching onto that shameful stone of accusation. But, it’s time to drop those rocks of callousness and embrace each other.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating skipping together hand-in-hand and disappearing into a delusional rainbow of peace and love. 1 Thessalonians also says to abstain from every evil. Yet, it also notes, do not repay evil for evil.

To take from a famous song, ‘what the world needs now is love sweet love.’ And what better way to display love Jesus’ way – because he is love. How absolutely breathtaking to act out his love with our words spoken to one another.

A challenge to myself this week will be – to speak love through my actions and deeds. Life is too short to spew hatred and vile comments to one another, whether you stand in accordance with that person or not.

I love the children’s song which goes, ‘God is still working on me to make me what I ought to be.’ The King is at work in hearts and minds across the globe. He is not dead. Let’s choose to be the face of Jesus who allowed Mary, a sinner, to douse his feet with oils and her tears. He did not recount her sins to the world or hurl insults her way, he forgave her completely in love.

We are all striving to greatness. Evolving, if you will, into better versions of ourselves day by day. The more I learn about God, the closer I draw to him, the sweeter I become. And, this is simply because I am clinging onto his goodness not my own strength.

However, I think it is important, while we are striving for more fulfillment and depth in our Creator God, to love where we are in the moment. We need to love every aspect of our lives.

“Be in love with your life, every detail of it.” – Jack Kerouac

Contentment is such a hard concept to truly grasp. But Beauties, you are fully complete in Christ and he stands over your charming braided head with a plentiful bucket of provision and blessings.

Although you obviously want to become the best version of yourself possible, your Savior recklessly loves you right where you are at. Whether it is picking up the pieces of a broken relationship, making a move into another job, figuring out where you want to go in life next, quitting a riddling addiction, striving to look and eat healthier or simply sifting through your passions and interests. He loves you.

Now it’s your turn to love you and love where you are at. Don’t let that thief, comparison, steal your joy. God has you where you are – for a reason. Trust him. Trust his reasoning. He is good and perfect – and so is his will!