This winter we had a 7th grade confirmation retreat, the theme of the retreat was “who am I?” We pondered this question in various ways throughout the retreat. One of things that we did was really powerful to me and I continue to think of it to this day.
We each had a sheet of people with blank squares on it. We took some time to write down lies that the world has told us about ourselves or lies that we tell ourselves about ourselves. Some examples were, “I don’t listen to the right music” or “I am not pretty enough” or “I do not wear the right clothes” and other examples along these lines. This moment was honest.
Then we took a sheet of paper that was designed the same exact way, and it had the blanks filled in with things that God says about us. There squares were now filled in with promises such as “I am worthy”, I am enough”, “I am precious” and more.
There is a reality in life that it gets real and that we do not always have the most positive or uplifting view of ourselves. We can believe the lies of negativity. And, if we are being honest, this time of isolation and worries of the pandemic only heightens this and our anxieties around it.
Here is the good news, God is bigger. God is bigger than all of this. I read a quote the other day that said “God doesn’t promise bad things won’t happen, but God continuously promises ‘I am with you”’ May we live in the promise that God’s love is greater, we are indeed worthy, called, claimed, precious, and enough. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
: “God, sometimes life is just hard, help me to cling to your promises. I am enough because you are enough. Amen.
Jay Kiel
