She approached timidly as I exited the conference double doors. She wrung in her hands the notes she had taken during the sessions and thanked me for sharing truth unabashedly. I thanked her for the compliments, but knew there was something beneath the surface of complimentary banter.
The brightly colored balloons and teal accents revealed the conference was geared for teens, but peppered in the audience were faces of mothers who attended alongside their daughters. She was one such attendee, weathered by premature stress and an obvious feeling of conflict. Sensing the tension, I opened the conversation up gently to see if her wringing hands of worry were open to be discussed.
I don’t believe you. I mean, it’s hard to believe what you said,ย she said as teared welled up in her eyes. Her wringing of hands turned into a shutter of shoulders and I watched a grown woman turn away from a oncoming group of teen girls. I knew what she was referring to. In the final session of the conference, I mentioned we were worth dying for.
The Jesus who healed, the Jesus who cured, the Jesus who loved, the Jesus who provided, the Jesus who was sinless, the Jesus who was beaten, the Jesus who was mocked, the Jesus who was scourged and whipped; the Jesus who was pierced, the Jesus who bore the cross of shame, Jesus who cried, was the Jesus who died for us. He believed we were worth dying for.
You are worth dying for.ย
It was as if she wanted me to admit I was being illustrative or telling a fable; as if I was lying to her. There was something in her past causing her to feel unworthy of Christ’s act of unending love. But she’s wrong. She’s worth it. You are worth it.
We are worth dying for.
Thank you so much for sharing this today. It was just the reminder I needed. I woke up feeling rather lonely and sad, but to be reminded that Jesus loves me enough to die for me lifted my spirits a little.
It’s a reminder for me too! Thanks for the encouragement Hillary. ๐
Amen!
B- your message hit straight to the heart, because their are days of blah, that we just don’t feel “wonderfully made ” or worthy of the death Jeasus died for us.
And we know that is the lie from the pit of hell. Your masterpiece illustration did something in my heart that for the first time I “got it” ….. It clicked… Your message was so right on for the 9 year olds all the way to the 90 year olds! Thanks again!
Monica, I was honored to see you there because your heart and passion for the next generation is evident and true. May God bless you and your family immensely! xoxo
Exactly. It’s so hard for me to believe sometimes and I thank you for the reminder today! ๐ Blessings to you!!! ๐
i can relate to the audience member… for me it wasn’t the thought or feeling of God & others not loving me – it was me not loving myself. i pray that the audience member now believes that through His grace she is loved & worth dying for… xo
Thank you for this message. It gives me so much hope! I’m looking forward to hearing you speak at CHIC 2012!
No way!!! You’ll be there? So rad.
Make sure and say hello. I always make time for blog readers ๐
Powerful. I love you, Bianca! Love this truth.
Underserving and hard to believe we are WORTH it. Praise the Lord for His mighty LOVE! Thanks for the reminder.
Bianca,
Can I repost this.?
Of course, Kathy! It’d be my honor ๐
This reminds me of a line from a beautiful Nichole Nordeman song:
“To hang between two thieves in the darkness, Love must believe you are worth it.” He wouldn’t have done it if we weren’t, I don’t think. Still, I don’t suppose that makes it any easier to grasp.
This is so, so good.
A perfect illustration for your post:
“Someone Worth Dying For” by Mikeschair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF5CjtrIl_c
๐
Oh my word! I LOVE it. Thanks for the linky link!
Bianca-
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom everyday. They mean more to me than you’ll ever know. My heart hurts deeply from the past. I ask that you pray for me and thank you for being you. A beautiful young lady filled with the spirit of Jesus.Have a blessed day. Much love.l
Sweet Karen, thank you for your kind words and I pray you are healed anew every day!