Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless YouSample

You Don't Have to Change a Thing

  

Most of us can think of something about ourselves that we’d like to change or something other people have told us we need to change.

For me at your age, it was being what my teachers called “too loud.” 

Every report card I received informed my parents that I talked too much in class. I would always promise my mom I would do better and I meant to. Really, I did. Once I got in class though … it just seemed impossible. There were so many hours to be quiet and not enough minutes to chat. For all my talking, there were consequences that followed. 

The worst consequence came in sixth grade. My teacher decided the only way to keep me quiet was to put my desk right next to his. Not in front or behind his, but right next to it. Close enough that he could reach out and touch my arm if I started talking. 

So embarrassing! 

“Too loud” became the label I wore.

I am sure my teacher didn’t mean to make me feel like I was flawed, but that is how I felt. 

Until I started discovering God’s words about me. 

In Zechariah 2:8 God tells how he feels about those he loves, “… for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.” (NIV) 

We are the apples of his eye. We are a sweet spot in His heart.

Reading those words began to change the way I saw myself. Yes, I did need to learn self-control. But God didn’t see me like my teachers saw me—He said I was sweet to Him. 

Knowing someone thought of me and loved me like that, made it a whole lot easier for me to love myself. I realized God knew exactly what He was doing when He made me to be a girl who loves words. Now, I need a lot of them!

Is there something about you that someone has said you need to change? How does that make you feel? Changing is not a bad thing; in fact, it is very good. Every day I hope that I am changing, growing into a person who is more and more like Jesus. But I also am embracing that even if I never change, God still thinks I’m sweet to Him. 

Becoming Brave 

Whenever you see an apple, remind yourself: I am the apple of God’s eye.

Courageous Call 

Dear God, help me to bravely face the changes I need to make in order to become more mature. Help me remember that me changing and You loving me have nothing to do with each other. You say I am the apple of your eye! In Jesus’ name, Amen.