Be You, Bravely

At the beginning of September, I had the opportunity to stand before a bunch of women at my church's women's retreat and share truth with them that has transformed my life. I was thrilled for the chance to share with them my own journey and introduce them to The Significant Woman Life Coaching Course. The course leads women through exercises to help us discover and celebrate how God made each one of us uniquely, while whispering truth over the broken places of our hearts. I stood on the first night and shared part of my story, trusting that there were women in the room that needed to hear it because God wrote it with a purpose.

My life had taught me wearing masks was necessary to hide my reality from others. I spent my days building and protecting my reputation. I lived my life to please people, to show people how good I could be and exceed their expectations of me. I would figure out who you wanted me to be and become that, like a chameleon. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to live a perfect life and never fail. I wouldn't let myself break. I found my acceptance and worth in others and was determined to prove to the world that I had it all together.

When I was fifteen, in a life changing moment, I placed my trust in Jesus Christ and became a Christ follower.  I knew there was something radically different in the truth that was shared with me from the Bible in that moment. My eyes were opened to see clearly for the first time. It was different than the years of religion I'd been taught and it compelled me to love and follow Jesus with my whole life. But, because I didn't know any better, I started transferring those same ways of living to my new life with Christ. I figured out what everyone said a good Christian should be and I worked really hard to try to be that. I was trying to prove myself more than ever before and was determined to fit into the cookie cutter idea of a Christian I had developed in my mind. I was committed to living my life for the Lord, but the masks were still my default. I would wear them without even thinking. I hid the imperfections. This time, I thought I had to prove to the world that I had it all together because I knew Jesus. I still wanted to tell people the good parts of the story. Not let them see too much of my grit. I thought somehow that was what brought God the most glory and honor. 

When I dedicated my life to Jesus, I learned that He calls us to live our lives to please Him. I started changing myself to be who I thought I should be to please God AND others. As a result, I lost bits of myself along the way. Without realizing what I was doing, I was letting other people define me, not the God who created me. What I didn't really grasp is that God is already fully pleased with me because of what Jesus did on the cross for me. 

I've learned that a very big part of pleasing God is becoming and understanding the person he created me to be. Not who others think I should be, but who I am. My personality, my interests and passions, where I come from, my preferences are all things God has used to shape me uniquely. I'm learning to embrace my true self, while simultaneously growing closer to the Lord. And it's fun! It's fun to be me and not a version of what I think I'm supposed to be. There is so much  more freedom and fun in following Christ than I ever dreamed AND the only reason I know that is because God has shown me His grace.

I believed that Jesus came so that I could go to Heaven and Jesus came to show me how to live life the right way, but I was missing one of the biggest parts of His story: His grace in my daily life. His grace didn't just buy me a ticket to Heaven. It's what continues to change my life everyday, allowing me to live a more full, more free and joyful life.  As a child of God, my identity isn't in what I can do or who I can make myself, it's in what He has done for me. When God looks at me, He sees Jesus. I'm fully approved and acceptable in God's eyes as His Child. Nothing I can do will make Him love me more or less. I can't earn it any of it. I relearn that in new ways everyday and I will for the rest of my life. 

Etsy shop: artbyerinleigh

He treasures me completely even when He sees all of my junk completely, so I can let brokenness show. I can be real. He shines through my life more brightly when I am. Jesus came so I can fail and be messy. I don't have to wear masks. Actually, God doesn't want me to wear masks. He wants me to be authentic because it's not my job to write my story for everyone else. He started writing my story before I was ever born. My story is a part of His bigger story. He changes and refines the parts of me that need changing, but God also celebrates the uniqueness of who I am and wants to use that for His greater purposes. 

My story matters. My personality is not a mistake. My passions are unique to me. My interests have purpose. The people He's placed in my life are there for a reason.  All of those life circumstances (good and terribly hard) are significant. Because He created me and my worth comes from Him. I'm His masterpiece. 

I'm learning to invite friends over when my house is messy! I'm learning to share the hardest parts of my life and my ugly sin with trusted friends who will walk with me through it and point me to Jesus. I'm learning to be more real with myself, God and others everyday.  I let it sink in that God is enough and that when He sees me...all broken messy me...He sees His treasure! THAT is life changing.  

Do you buy into the lies that you have to "be something different", "be more", "be less", "get it together", "be better", "do more", "not let them see" or "never talk about that part of your past for fear of what others might think"? If so, hear the truth today! God has so much more for you than that. You are His masterpiece.

Because of Jesus.

There is nothing like standing before a room full of women of all ages and backgrounds and helping them see their worth through God's eyes. When we begin to realize how many lies we believe daily about our significance, and take our first steps toward trusting God to write our story, the whole game changes. There's freedom and power in knowing you are called to be who God created YOU to be! Every unique, quirky, complicated bit of who you are is a part of God's greater plan and purpose for your life and His kingdom. When you know that God's love is not something you can earn, that nothing you could do or be could make him love you more or less, you can stop pretending. Let this truth motivate an authentic life that points to Jesus, all imperfections included.  

I watched women cry and connect over cookies as they were given the freedom to take off their masks and just be real. Every bit of it was messy and beautiful.

Could this shirt be any more perfect? I love love love it!  

Check out this shirt and other fun gems at Be Still Clothing Company.

If you've stuck with me to the end of this post, thank you! I had to finish up by sharing this movie clip with you! It illustrates the idea of  "being you" beautifully. 

You're Beautiful!