You Are Amazing!

Alone

Do you ever feel lonely or left out of significant friendships? Before David became ruler of Israel, he spent much of his life hiding in the wilderness while fleeing from enemies who hunted him for death. During this frightening time, he experienced deep loneliness and cried out to God, begging, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.”

God loves to bring His comfort to us when we feel alone. Even in his troubles, David knew that God was near to him and that God’s love for him was steadfast and sure.

See more of what David wrote about God here

Average

Do you feel too average to have a great story? Gideon was the youngest son in a common family, just going about his chores when God called him to step up. Nervous about this, Gideon offered many excuses to try and disqualify himself. When that didn’t work, he asked God for proof over and over again. Finally convinced, God used Gideon mightily to free his own people from oppression. God doesn’t choose only the most likely candidates for His work. He knows our shortcomings and uses those for His glory.

Read the story of Gideon’s unlikely transformation here

Gave up on God

Did you ever give God a chance that ultimately left you disappointed and now there’s no going back? Peter came from a small village and worked as a fisherman – circumstances that made his association with Jesus even more interesting.

Jesus invited Peter to be part of His closest circle of friends, known as His disciples, and spent three years teaching and training him. But at a crucial moment when Jesus needed him, Peter flaked out, pretending he had never even met Jesus. Peter’s betrayal was completely forgiven by Jesus and, through this experience, Peter was convinced of God’s grace and kindness. In fact, he went on to be used mightily by God.

Matt 26:69-75

Too Late

Do you feel it’s already too late to do something significant? Sarah had always wanted children and received a promise from God that she and her husband, Abraham who was over 100 years old, would have a family. Sarah, too, was well past her childbearing years when she was told that God’s promise still held and she would, indeed, bear a child. It seemed so ridiculous to her that she actually laughed! But, at age 90, she had a son named Isaac. God keeps His promises and uses people in His time and His ways.

Read how God came through for Sarah here

Messed Up

Do you think you’ve already messed up too much in life? Rahab was working as a prostitute when providence brought two Israelite spies to her doorstep. She had heard stories of the God of Israel, so when opportunity knocked she chose to help the spies. God used her mightily in His great story and Rahab went on to become part of the family line of Jesus.

Read more about how Rahab became part of a great story here

Something to Prove

Do you constantly work harder to try and prove your worth? Moses, abandoned as a baby and placed in a basket near a river, was discovered and raised in a palace by the Egyptian princess who found him. This royal upbringing gave him insider access to observe firsthand the oppression of the Israelites. When he tried to intervene, he was forced to flee both the palace and his country. Many years later, God raised him up to be the leader he was born to be - but in His way and on His timetable. God wanted someone who was willing and humble, not someone who was concerned with the benefits and authority of leadership.

Read more about how God used Moses here

Tired

Does the idea of trying to do anything in life leave you feeling exhausted? The Bible is filled with stories of people who are tired. Tired of fighting, tired of living in a foreign land, tired of trying to do the right thing, tired of being misunderstood, and just plain exhausted. Elijah was a prophet at a time when Israel was under evil rulers who wanted him down and killed for opposing them. Elijah was weary and fed up of fighting, but God wasn’t done with him. He sent an angel to meet him right where he was and look after him. God understands the cares of the world can drain us and lovingly extends this invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

See how God took care of Elijah when he was too tired to keep going here

Too Young

Do you think you’re unqualified to do things that matter in life? At age 8, Josiah was crowned king over the nation of Israel. He inherited a Kingdom filled with Israelites who had turned away from God’s laws to worship pagan gods. Through his reign, he sought the Lord’s guidance to turn his nation back to true worship, throwing out all their pagan idols.

To read Josiah’s whole story (it’s short!) click here

Adopted

God has given you an open invitation to be part of his family.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son ship.

Romans 8:14-15

Beautiful

God sees you through eyes of love.

You are altogether beautiful my darling, there is no flaw in you … You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eye.

Song of Solomon 4:7, 9

Worthy

God is a caring, kind Father who delights in you – just as you.

I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

Jeremiah 32:41

Cherished

God looks at you with tenderness, and wants you to know the joy and love he has for you.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Chosen

Even before you were created, God set His affection on you as His child.

God chose us […] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to son ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.

Ephesians 1:4-5

Family

As our Heavenly Father, God wants to take care of your needs and anxieties.

So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:31-33

Known

God knows everything about you because He created you with a purpose in mind.

Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

Psalm 139:1-4

Loved

God has spoken His love for you, not because of anything you have or haven’t done, but because He is a loving Father.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.

1 John 4:16

Son or Daughter

God has a purpose for your life that is only found in relationship with Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

John 1:12

Winner

God has planned a good future for you and wants you to be secure in it.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

He wants to comfort you

We will have trouble in this life, but God never planned for us to face it alone.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

He wants to heal you

God doesn’t just want to leave you in your pain and mess, he wants to comfort and restore you to new life in Him.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Wants a relationship with you

God sees everything that you are, everything you have been, everything you could be, and says ‘Come hang out with me. See what life might be like if we were friends and you knew how I really felt about you.’

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelations 3:20