GOD IS FOR YOU

God is good. But it gets even better. He is for you.

And “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). From his perspective, you are worth the death of his Son. You are valuable, purposeful, and important. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1 RSV).

If God is for you, shouldn’t you be for you? Does it make sense for you to be against you? You are against you when you call yourself dumb, ugly, or poor. You are against you when you tell yourself that there is no solution, hope, or promise in life. You are against you when you decide that you have no talents or friends or future.

So how do you begin to see yourself as God does?

Remember that your words matter. You are either your worst critic or greatest cheerleader. The words you tell yourself will either usher in fear or faith. “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4 NIV).

Hold fast to the promises of scripture. Tell yourself the truth about yourself. The apostle Paul modeled this for us. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37–39 NIV).

Personalize that passage. Insert the sources of anxiety that come your way. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither poor health, neither college debt nor pink slips, neither today’s deadline nor tomorrow’s diagnosis, nor any job transfers, neither addictions nor moral failures, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Be for you! God is.