Each year I choose a word or maybe I should say a word chooses me. This year’s been a bit different. I guess you might say I wasn’t really feeling it. No normal excitement or brainstorming for the perfect word. For the most part I didn’t think about it at all. I entered 2024 without a word or the motivation to find a word.
This year a word found me. I’ve tried to brush it aside. ignore it. pretend it isn’t there. But it just keeps showing up in places I least expect. The word…
EMBRACE
I’m not too comfortable with this word. Truth is I have personal space issues. I wish I could say it is with those I’m unfamiliar with but that’s not true. My space issue is nondiscriminatory. Overflowing to strangers, friends, and those closest to me. It’s a struggle because to embrace means to let my guard down. It invites others to know me in ways I’m not comfortable with and opens me up to hurt I would rather avoid.
It even effects my relationship with God which is quite absurd when you think about it. God knows everything yet I feel most comfortable when I keep Him at arm’s length. Before you go shaking your head, please know this is a lifelong spiritual wrestling rooted in my not enough mindset. Not good enough. Not strong enough. Not serving enough. Never. not ever. enough.
God and I have been back and forth on this one for a long time. I share all the reasons I’m not acceptable to Him. All the while He reminds me it’s not about me. Not about my goodness or obedience to the law. Not my attitude or my composure. I am His daughter. And that’s that.
We’ve come a long way, but with this year’s word I recognize there are still miles to go. Maybe this is why Embracing Joy’s transformational truth sticks with me.
Settle it forever in your heart–God loves you.
Did you get that?
You… who wonders if you’ll ever measure up to the sacrifice Jesus made.
You… who feels like you’re too far gone.
You… who lives life on Lonely Street begging for a new address.
And you.
The one who is engulfed in grief and grasping for any explanation to the why.
Yes you!
The girl whose interior battle to belong doesn’t show on her face.
The momma who can’t seem to get it all together and questions if she’s totally messing things up.
The boy who can’t sit still no matter how you try.
The teen who thinks there’s no hope in the world so why live in it.
The man, the murderer, the liar, cheat and thief
YES. You are EXACTLY who I’m talking to.
It’s time to settle this once and for all.
God. loves. you.
Truth is God just can’t help himself.
Our friend Habakkuk figured this out. He realized all that God allows in the lives of His children stems from love. And not just for love’s sake. It is because God wants to fully embrace us without one single space issue.
Let me say it once more. My prayer is you will look in the mirror every morning and keep saying it until you are completely transformed.
God Loves You. Say it again. God loves you. Settle it forever in your heart.
God Loves YOU
Just know I’ll be saying it along with you.
Stacy
Unraveled Love 
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