I wish I knew then what I know now. That who I am in Christ is all that matters. That other’s opinions of me don’t count.
I wish I could go back and tell the teenage me – that girl
whose heart was hurting because her boyfriend dumped her out of the blue for
a girl at camp, that girl who tried too hard to make sure everyone liked her,
that girl who wondered sometimes whether God was even there – I wish I could
whisper some things in her ear.
I’d speak words of truth into her heart about who she is in
Christ, and this is what I’d say:
Girl, you are loved by
the Almighty. You are a daughter of the King of Kings! You are precious,
chosen and redeemed. Don’t let anyone belittle you or put you down! You might
do some stupid stuff, and maybe friends will turn their backs on you, but it
won’t be the end of the world. Remember this: You are amazing, you are
beautiful, and the God of the Universe sings over you. Long before He created
the world, He had you on his mind. You are worth more than gold. Jesus gave His
very life for you! And He has good things planned for your life. You’ll see. Don’t
worry. Don’t be afraid. Don’t believe the Enemy. You are good enough, because
of Jesus.
I can’t go back and whisper to my teenage self. But I can
whisper these words to my own two teenage girls and pray that they will truly
believe them, that they will fully grasp “how wide and long and high and deep
is the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:18)
I can pray that they will “know him better… and that the eyes their
hearts will be enlightened in order that they may know the hope to which he has
called them, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his
incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)
And you know what? While I’m at it, I just might whisper
these things to myself, too, because a reminder would do my heart some good.
What would you whisper
to your teenage self if you could?
