A question that I commonly deal with is who I am. So often I define myself by what happens to me, or what I do. Is that really who I am? 

If we place our identity in the things of this world, we are letting ourselves rest on a slippery foundation of sand. Why? Because our circumstances will change, and everything in this world will eventually pass away. Instead of trusting and defining ourselves by these things, if we define ourselves by who we are in God and what He calls us, we will have a firm foundation to stand upon no matter the storms that assail us. 

Instead of focusing on my illness, I remember that God has made me exactly the way He wants me to be. (Psalm 139) 
Instead of viewing myself as unlovable, God sees me as beautiful and lovely, made in His image. (Genesis 1:26) 
Instead of feeling vulnerable and alone, God watches over me and never leaves me. (Proverbs 15:3, Deuteronomy 31:6) 
Instead of focusing on my weakness and fear, God promises His strength. (Isaiah 41:10) 
Instead of feeling worthless, God views me as so valuable that He died to rescue me! (John 3:16) 

As Kristyn Getty puts it in the lyrics of the song “Christ is All in All,” 
“See how He loves us
Children of God
Now let us love each other
If He has called us
Children of God
That’s who we are, His chosen and beloved”

That’s who you are, His chosen and beloved. 

~paisley 

This was originally published as a guest post on Katerina's blog, www.beautyinthepainblog.com. 

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Suffering. What do you think of when you hear that word? Some words that come to mind include pain, hardship, sorrow, and rejection. If these are what characterize suffering, how can we have joy during the Christmas season, or any time of the year? 


Do we have our definition of joy wrong? For myself, I often find myself confusing happiness with joy, but for the follower of Christ we are commanded to "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). How can we rejoice when we are suffering? 


The answer lies in the events of Christmas. The reason Jesus came to earth as a baby on Christmas was to die in our place, to cleanse us from our sins, so that one day we can live with God forever in a place with no pain, suffering, or sorrow anymore! As Revelation 21:4 beautifully states: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 


This is the reason that we can have joy, no matter the circumstances, because we can trust in a God who has redeemed us and promised us that one day all things will be made right. This is the hope I cling to in the midst of my own suffering and sorrows, so that I can "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) 


Here is a song that I have been meditating on for the past few months and has been a comfort in reminding me that the Lord cares for His children. 

~paisley 

(All scripture quoted from the English Standard Version)