Do you ever wonder how God sees you? Do you struggle with paralyzing thoughts about yourself that border on self-hatred? You’re not alone.
If you do, there is probably an accompanying attitude of guilt for feeling these things.
How you see yourself and your situation is essential to how you live. I received a message from a young believer asking for insight in how to deal with anxiety.
Here’s what I shared.
God calls you what you are not… yet.
In order to live the life that God has for you, use the right viewfinder for your life.
Look at the life of a man named Gideon. He shows up in a list of heroes of faith in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. Hundreds of years previous, Gideon responded to the threat of enemies by beating wheat in a winepress to hide it. His anxiety level was off the charts. Scared. But God comes to him and calls him “O Mighty Man of Valor.” Judges 6:12 (ESV) Well, Gideon certainly did not look like a man of valour in that moment, but God saw what Gideon would become.
Look at Simon, a fisherman called by Jesus to become a fisher of men. Jesus sees Simon – “the reed” – and renames him Peter – “the rock”. Peter certainly wasn’t a rock when he denied knowing Jesus. Peter went back to fishing after witnessing Jesus’ resurrection and after being commissioned to go into all the world to make disciples. Not a solid on his part. However, Jesus saw the rock inside Simon Peter and called it out it out of him when Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit.
You are in trouble if you see who you are in your weakness and not who you are in Jesus.
God allows you to see yourself in your anxiety and weakness for the purpose of a continual turning to Him. Paul, the man who turned the world right side up had his life turned upside down but declared, “I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
God is the worst picker of people, but there is a simple reason.
It’s evident that the people God chooses would be the last people you would think would be chosen to expand the knowledge of His glorious kingdom. Why is this? It’s actually very simple. So that the glory goes to Him not them.
Which viewfinder are using? Was this post for you today? Please post a comment at the bottom, like and share this post so others can see God’s view of them. Thank you!
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That is great advice for someone struggling with worry and anxiety. Been there. Done that for sure. It is commendable that they reached out to you in their struggles and I am very glad it was you that they reached out to for help.