Recently, I was spending my regular time journaling and I came across a specific prompt within a guided prayer journal I am currently working through. The prompt asked me to write a letter of encouragement to myself, encouragement which I particularly needed to hear in this season of life. Thinking back over all my years spent journaling, specifically the years in which my entries became prayers, I started to realize my entries were, more often than not, geared toward becoming a better daughter and version of myself. I quickly came to realize how instinctually focused on the jealous love of God I had been, the portion of His love which always desires for us to look more and more like Him. 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, which is good, acceptable, and perfect” (Romans 12:2 ESV).

Transformation is a vital aspect to a life-encompassing faith. Still, we cannot compromise the completeness of His unconditional love by focusing too intently on such a transformation. 

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Psalms 103:8 NLT).

One thing I find so marvelous about the love of God is that it is so beautifully characterized by both His jealousy and His mercy. He loves us so profoundly that He doesn’t want to leave us in our sin. Nevertheless, He loves us so profoundly regardless of the decision we choose to make. If you’re anything like me, you likely spend a bit more time focusing on areas for improvement than on positive reflection. We miss such a meaningful opportunity to recognize God’s faithfulness when we only look ahead and never choose to reflect. Since writing this letter, I went back and added in some scripture references because I know how sometimes a statement can seem true, but it becomes all the more affirming being able to pinpoint an exact place in scripture where a statement is proclaimed. God whispered to me throughout the process that these affirmations and truths aren’t just for me. He wants to uplift and encourage each one of us; His unfailing love wants to meet us exactly where we are at. So whether each truth that I needed to hear for myself resonates with you, or just one, I know God wants to encourage you.

Here’s my letter:

You are so incredibly loved. Never forget how easy to love you are. You don’t need to worry because God is going to work everything out the way it is meant to be and meant to unfold. You haven’t ruined anything; you’re not behind. God is giving you another opportunity to answer the question “do you trust me? “Your story is the only story you get to live, and if you could see with the big, faith-goggles that God has, you wouldn’t want to miss even a second of it. You are so precious to God; He holds your life in his hands. Remember that he is El-roi, the God who sees you.

“So [Hagar] named the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are El-roi,” for she said, ‘in this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?’” (Genesis 16:13 CSB)

In fact, he’s not just the God who sees you, he’s the God who is for you. 

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Psalms 118:6 NLT)

The enemy can make his faithfulness and goodness feel so far away, but God has never, not once strayed from His character. He was for you and loved you immeasurably before you were born, and He still loves you and is for you today.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13 NLT)

You can’t change him, and even if you could, you can’t change what he did: he allowed his only son, his beloved son, in whom he is well-pleased hang on a Roman cross- beaten, bruised, tired, hurting. 

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all— how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV)

In that moment Jesus demonstrated complete surrender; Jesus laid down his life for you on the cross and I believe he was able to do so, mocked, scorned, and humiliated, because he saw your face. He saw you laugh. He knew eternity wouldn’t be complete without you. You matter to the most important being to ever exist. He couldn’t stand the thought of knowing you might never be able to reach him, so he sacrificed everything for you and chose to reach down to you. 

“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters” (Psalm 18:16 NLT).

He knew you might never love him back, that you would do horrible things- things that cause your great shame and reap difficult consequences- He knew in loving you His heart would break at your tears and your heartache. And in the midst of all that, He doesn’t even hesitate. 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask in the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:16 ESV).

I choose you.

“You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4 CSB).

I love you.

“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed all the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 CSB).

To me, you are worth it.

You are worth loving. God’s investment in you is not wasted. He seeks after you with a selfless love. It’s not for your performance, your beauty, or your talents that he loves. It’s for nothing that you can control, his love is for you because he created you. You’re hand-crafted and stamped with the blood of Jesus. His vastness is captured in the depth of your eyes. His intricacy represented by the complexity of your anatomy and the miraculous wonder that it all works together. 

He loves that you’re not like anyone else. He loves the things that make a difference and he wants you to know that in you, he is glorified. You brilliantly reflect the beauty of a glorious creator. God has good things in store for you. Remember how he created the whole earth in six days and called it good? Yeah, that caliber of goodness. Your faithfulness in this season is recognized and met with great compassion. He knows the way He is molding you and shaping you may seem insignificant and unnoticeable, but remember that He is El-roi. What you’re waiting for now, God is pleased with the faith it takes to release the situation into His hands. 

Remember when it all went wrong? When you tried everything you could on your own and you finally realized that God was the answer? God said, give me your broken pieces, give me your shattered heart. God is still the answer. The dreams you have, they’re His dreams, too. When you were little, you could do nothing on your own: needing an adult’s hand to cross mere feet of pavement. Think about it, the fact that you’re here, alive, right now is proof that God has always been there, providing for you in the simplest of ways. Sweet friend, you’ve been resting in Him, relying on Him since before you knew how. He hasn’t changed. He still provides, and honestly, He’ll still hold your hand when you’re crossing the street if you ask Him to. Remember, He doesn’t have the way, the truth, and the life; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He doesn’t ask for an astronomical, Herculean faith, but He asks for the faith that you do have to be put completely in Him. 

Friend, you are so incredibly loved, by a miraculous God, a God who sees you. There was never a question, even a hint of a doubt in choosing to love you. You are so easy to choose, so easy to love. God and others enjoy loving you.