I recently heard this question posed on social media… “If God takes it from you tomorrow…. Are you okay? If not, then you found identify in it. If you found identify in it, then it’s become your idol.“
Whatever IT is to us, That could be many different things for each one of us. To some of us, that could be a spouse or a significant other. For some of us, that could be a child. For others of us it could be a best friend, a pet or even a job.
For me, I have experienced two great losses in my life that really made me question IF I was going to be okay. Don’t get me wrong, I‘ve had many heartbreaks and challenges in my life, just like everyone else. I’ve always taken time to process, do a little whining, a little crying and of course wallowing but after a short while I would be ready to let God dust me off and help me get back up again. He was always there, ready to help me process through the junk of whatever the circumstances were, help me gain some perspective, learn for the situation, mend my heart, and help me take the steps forward to continue on with whatever was next.
But there have been two that had such a significant impact on my life, I really was not okay. And I did not know if I was going to be okay. They shook me at my core. I felt completely broken and undone. The hurt was deep. And, if I am being honest, I didn’t want to be okay. I felt completely paralyzed and never would have expected either of them to happen.
One was the passing of my late husband. I just knew God was going to heal him and let me keep him here on this earth with me. I was completely heartbroken because God answered my prayer with a NO and gave Mark healing in Heaven. I knew God could do it, IF He wanted. And yet, He did not. …. Notice the wording of my prayer above… it really was a request to God asking Him to heal Mark so I could keep him here on the earth with me. I needed him.… I told God that so many times… I needed him. And I did. I needed him. When God gave Mark his Heavenly and perfect healing, I was utterly devastated and did not want to live on this earth without him.
The other was the loss of a dear friend. Not a loss by death but the loss of the friendship. The details of it all aren’t to be shared here but I never would have imagined the events that occurred and the depth of the heartbreak I have experienced.
In one of my previous writings I believe that I had referenced a passage of scripture talking about how God had the Israelites go through things over and over until they learned what God was trying to teach them. After some time now, even though tears still fall for both of my big life lessons, I see God in them. I hear God saying to me, Missy Dawn… remember Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
We are who we are because of God. He created us in our mother’s womb. He knew us and knew everything about us before we were even created and born. He loves us unconditionally. He will never turn His back on us. He will never leave us.
Our identity is simple: We are God’s Child.
God allows us to be children to our parents, spouses to our partners, parents to our children, and friends to one another.
BUT…
NONE OF THOSE DEFINE US.
NONE OF THOSE ARE WHO WE ARE.
WE ARE GOD’S CHILD.
THAT IS WHO WE ARE.
THAT IS WHERE OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND.
Thank you, Lord that I am okay. Thank you that you make me okay.
Thank you for YOUR LOVE.
Thank you for your Grace, Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your patience.
Thank you, Lord… that I AM YOURS.
Much Love ♥️
Michelle
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Resource Recommendations:
- Shine: Stepping into the role you were made for by Allison Allen
- Journey to A New Beginning After Loss by Scott Reall
- NIV Life Application Study Bible
- Tyndale NLT Girls Life Application Study Bible
- Breaking Free by Beth Moore
- Entrusted by Beth Moore
- Fervent by Priscilla Shirer
- The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Rediscovering Israel by Kristi McLelland
- Life After Life by Raymond Moody