The Lies Our Hearts Believe

“No one will ever love you the way I do.” Ladies, has a guy ever laid that line on you? If you have ever heard those words, did it make your heart skip a beat? Did a wave of panic overcome you, scared at the thought of being alone?

My younger sister and I were catching up the other day.  She was filling me in on the ups and downs of being a single, thirty-something woman.  Relationships are tough to establish these days.  And once you find yourself in one, sometimes they can be even tougher to maintain.  Often, you are just so happy to not be alone anymore, that you will compromise or stick around even when it may not be the healthiest of situations.

My sister’s stories reminded me of a lie that took hold of my heart for a brief time, long ago. I was not the best at relationships in the past.  I was awful at them. I seemed to always pick Mr. Wrong.  More often than not, I would pick Mr. Very Wrong.  I was drawn to controlling, manipulative men.  I stayed in relationships long past when I should have bailed.  There was a part of me that was afraid to be alone and another part of me that just wanted to be loved.  It didn’t matter if the “love” or attention I was getting was unhealthy or not.

Near the end of one of those unhealthy relationships, I actually had my boyfriend at the time say to me, “No one will ever love you the way I do.” For a millisecond, my heart stopped.  I had a life of loneliness flash before my eyes.  I allowed that lie to take hold.  My heart believed it.  Even after I finally ended the relationship, that lie still stuck with me.  After every bad date I had, those words would hit me all over again.

Not long after that relationship ended, I got saved.  I accepted Jesus as my Savior and my whole world changed.  My outlook on life and love was different.  That’s when I realized, my ex-boyfriend’s words, were in a way, true!

No one will ever love me the way he did.  Jesus loves me more!  Jesus loves me better!  Jesus loves me in a way no person on this earth could ever love me.  The love our Savior has for us is pure, true, and perfect.  Christ’s love for us is wide, long, high, and deep (Ephesians 3:18). 

So now I ask you, what lie (or lies) is your heart believing today? Have you been told you aren’t smart enough? What about not pretty enough? Were you told, like me, that no one would ever love you like a certain person does? How about, I can’t do this or that because of my past?  God can’t use someone like me.

I want to encourage you right now... that lie that has settled in your heart, release it. It is a lie. You are the apple of God's eye!  You are smart, beautiful, talented, and God most certainly can use you!  Don’t forget that God does not call the equipped; He equips those He has called!

Open up your heart to Jesus.  He knows your hurts.  He knows what lies are holding you down or keeping you back.  Allow Him to open your eyes and see the TRUTH!  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.  Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.  You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.  For your Maker is your husband — the Lord Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:4-5 (NIV)

Ladies, we love you and are here for you! Please email women@westridge.cc with questions or prayers.  

The Ordinary

Not too long ago, I got a bill in the mail from my friendly, neighborhood cable provider.  I opened the bill expecting my payment amount to be a certain figure but my eyes bulged and jaw dropped when I saw that the amount I was expecting and the amount my bill actually was were vastly different!  Once I cleared the sweat from my brow, I analyzed my statement.  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But then I saw it.  My special “plan” rate had expired and I was now being charged the regular price.

Do you have those moments of craziness in your brain like me?  I suddenly started running through scenarios in my head of how to fix the problem.  Switch providers? Skimp back on services? Or gulp; get rid of cable all together?!  I knew I needed to call my cable provider but I dread making those kinds of phone calls.  I usually end up on hold for a long time while my kids scream in the background, or I am connected with someone I have a hard time understanding, or I get disconnected, or ALL three!

Now, this was not a life or death situation.  Nor was it a dire circumstance.  If I really had to get rid of cable, I believe I could do it.  (Now, my husband on the other hand, would have some serious issues with that, especially during football and hockey season!) So this problem/issue wasn’t really something that most people would deem “prayer worthy”.  It was just one of those run of the mill, ordinary issues we face in our day to day lives.

I was all set to start dialing my phone when I remembered; God cares about our day to day problems.  He cares about our “ordinary”.  He wants to be invited in to our everyday situations, no matter how commonplace they might be.

I decided to do just that.  I am not ashamed to admit, I prayed about my phone call to the cable company. Why not? God knows me. He saw me get all frazzled by my bill. He knows what is important to me (staying within my budget and having a happy husband!).  Why not bring this issue to Him in prayer?

So, I prayed.  I thanked God for His great provision.  I told Him that this bill was not going to fit into my family’s budget.  I prayed for great favor with whoever I spoke with on the other end of the phone.  I requested that that person and I would be able to understand each other and communicate well.  I prayed that God would keep me from getting nervous while explaining my situation.  Then I asked God to give me the right words to say.

I finished my prayer, picked up the phone and dialed the number.  I was fully expecting at least a five minute wait filled with “hold music” containing the saxophone and various hits from the eighties (How did Gloria Estefan and her Miami Sound Machine make it to every hold-music station’s rotation?!). My palms were getting a bit sweaty as I held my statement, scanning it up and down.

I was pretty surprised when the customer service rep took my call just a few seconds after it connected.  I was thrilled when the very nice woman on the other end of the line, patiently listened as I explained the reason for my call.  I was shocked when she told me she would be able to help me stay within my budget and actually save an additional $10 per month! By the time our phone call ended I was smiling with joy as she told me to go enjoy my afternoon with my kiddos.

You see, God cares about what you care about.  God’s love for His children is vast yet intricate enough that He pays attention to you every single moment of every single day. There is not a minute, not a second, that you are not in God’s line of sight. He knows even those “little things” that are a part of your life.  He knows you inside and out.  That means He knows too, what causes you stress and what puts a smile on your face.

My challenge to you today is this; make it a point to talk to God today. Talk to Him more than once.  Pray about the big things and the little things.  All those small things add up to make your whole day.  God cares, and not only does He care but He wants you to invite Him into your day. I promise you it will make a difference.  If not in your situation, then in you and your perspective about that situation.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7