littlebylittlemore

Does it ever just feel like your past failures and mistakes will always be hanging over your head? That the healthy changes you are wanting to make in your life are just unattainable? That your fears are at times suffocating you and holding you back from truly trusting the Lord or moving forward? This time of year, people are always making new resolutions about what they want the year to be like and the changes they want to make. But making a lasting change is hard, and often within the first couple weeks we get discouraged and give up.

I have a group of ladies I meet with regularly for Bible Study, and we were just talking about this very thing a couple days ago. I realized that so often I think that there is just no way that I will ever be able to move forward and become the person I want to be and know I should be. I find myself saying things like, “I am incapable.I am unworthy. I am too weak.I am going to fail. It’s hopeless. That the work it’ll take just isn’t worth it.” But those are lies, aren’t they?

The truth is that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Php 4:13)
I am precious and loved. (Isaiah 43:1-4) (John 3:16)
The Lord is slow to anger and His mercy is new every day. (Lamentations 3:21-23)
I have purpose and value. (Psalm 139) (Isaiah 55) (Jeremiah 29)
I am forgiven and set free (Romans 8)

And the same is true for you, too. Keep pressing on, and don’t let discouragement or setbacks ruin your hope. Are you struggling with a short temper? Pray that the One who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love will give you patience and peace. (Psalm 103:8) Are you trying to get healthier by making better eating choices or exercising more? Commit your plans and your work to the Lord, and He will establish your steps. (Proverbs 16:3). Pray for the Lord to come along side of you to help you persevere and to strengthen you.

This song I’ve put down below is one I listen to when I am feeling defeated and discouraged. It is one that helps me remember the truth about how God sees me, and I wanted to share it with you. Here are the lyrics:

Mended
by Matthew West

How many times can one heart break?
It was never supposed to be this way
Look in the mirror, but you find someone you never thought you’d be
Oh, but I can still recognize
The one I love in your tear stained eyes
I know you might not see him now, so lift your eyes to me

When you see broken beyond repair
I see healing beyond belief
When you see too far gone
I see one step away from home
When you see nothing but damaged goods
I see something good in the making
I’m not finished yet
When you see wounded, I see mended

You see your worst mistake
But I see the price I paid
There’s nothing you could ever do, to lose what grace has won
So hold on, it’s not the end
No, this is where love’s work begins
I’m making all things new
And I will make a miracle of you

When you see broken beyond repair
I see healing beyond belief
When you see too far gone
I see one step away from home
When you see nothing but damaged goods
I see something good in the making
I’m not finished yet
When you see wounded, I see mended

I see my child, my beloved
The new creation you’re becoming
You see the scars from when you fell
But I see the stories they will tell
You see worthless, I see priceless
You see pain, but I see a purpose
You see unworthy, undeserving
But I see you through eyes of mercy

When you see broken beyond repair
I see healing beyond belief
You’re not too far gone
You’re one step away from home
When you see nothing but damaged goods
I see something good in the making
I’m not finished yet, no
When you see wounded, I see mended
Ooh, I see mended
Woah, oh I see mended
I’m not finished yet
When you see wounded, I see mended

There’s hope, dear friends. There is truly hope found in Christ, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is not finished with you yet.

Isaiah 40:28-31 :”Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.”

Blessings.