As I’ve been thinking more about my own identity and the importance of speaking truth over myself, I’ve been trying to do the same with my girls. When they are cozy in bed or in my arms before they are about to sleep, I look into their blue eyes and speak the truth about who and whose they are.
Last night I snuggled next to my rosy-cheeked toddler and spouted off everything I could think of “You are kind. You are beautiful. You are chosen by God and loved more than you will ever know. You are thoughtful and a delight…” Her smile proved they were more than just words—it was truth touching her spirit. She nodded, claiming each affirmation. The words came easy—I believed them (then). I mean when you are snuggled in bed with a half-sleeping toddler, it is easy to believe they are full of sugar and spice and all the things nice.
Fast-forward 14 or so hours. Screaming. Crying. Toddler pushes baby and refuses timeout and proceeds to forget she’s (mostly) potty trained. My mind wanders to the night before. She’s not kind or delightful. She’s whiny, disrespectful and frankly, driving me nuts. This is the same child I calmly spoke deep and beautiful things over only hours before, but now I doubt it all. Thankfully, I hold my tongue and fight the urge to tell her I changed my mind.
Now the girls nap and I sit with my first cup of (warm) coffee and relish in the time to catch my breath and gather my thoughts.
In my own moments of tantruming in pride, ungratefulness or downright disobedience, does God want to take back what He has said to be true about me? Does He have to hold His tongue in moments of frustration from saying how He really feels? Does He really believe who He says I am?
// Malachi 3:6, “I, the Lord, do not change.”//
Thankfully, unlike us, God is unchanging, His view of us unshakeable. Somehow in His mysterious goodness and grace and mercy God is able to look through my mistakes, my inconsistency, my rebellion and see His son—spotless and perfect.
// Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” //
Even when we are at our worst, God doesn’t doubt who we are, want to take back His promises or remind us of our mistakes. Instead, He is consistently faithful and in His perfect love reminds us of our true identity—sons and daughters, heirs and the righteousness of Christ…the list goes on. It truly is unfathomable.
// “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 //
I found this quote from Rick Warren “Inconsistent fathers produce insecure children.”
Now that is something for me to think on…
I want the words I say to my girls to be consistent. I want to speak the truth of who I know they are in Christ, not what I see and experience in hard moments through my filters of frustration or exhaustion.
What a gift that we can find rock-solid security in our unchanging heavenly Father (insert all the praise hands). May we be glimmers of that to our kids and friends and spouses—seeing through the crap and to the heart of the One who is in them!
