The Longing Heart

Valentine's day. A beloved holiday by some and a dreaded holiday by others. One full of pink and red and flowers and chocolate and hearts and dates and romance and love.. one full of love.
    My intentions with this post aren't to just make it another "well Jesus loves you" post but to be real and honest and to also encourage and speak truth. A lot of people have a tough time during the holidays, especially ones that revolve around being with people and loved ones and relationships and that's okay.
   Have you ever been told you were enough by someone and then they changed their mind? Have you been told "I love you" by a friend or a boyfriend/girlfriend and then it crashed and burned? You're left feeling broken and wondering why you weren't enough for them. these are real feelings and real thoughts that not only women fight through but I have no doubt that men do too. Valentine's day is a tough day for many because of the brokenness of this world and the idea that being loved by someone makes us complete.
   
 As a friend of mine put in her post
       "For a very long time this made me feel incomplete and small, and Valentines Day was a day to feel tiny, Valentiny if you will. But not this year. I will no longer sit in that shame that I am less because I am not married. I will no longer allow that lie to permeate the wonderful young women around me who just wish to follow Christ with their whole hearts yet are told you aren’t complete".

     Being loved by someone does make us feel some type of way. It validates us, it fills us, it makes us feel complete. It gives us someone who is closer than anyone else and makes us feel like we're the most special person in the world. And there is nothing inherently wrong with being loved and known and loving/knowing.
   But hear me say this, my dear friends who may struggle around this holiday of love and relationships. You are complete. That doesn't lessen the hurt of the promises that were once made that weren't held up (I know), but in Christ you have been made complete. Christ is love. This world has a wonky definition of what love and completion are but He doesn't. He says, "You are Enough. You are mine. You are a child of the most High King. When you find your identity and wholeness in me first I will fill you no matter what the hurt of past or present might be." 
   We are a tangible people. We want our instant gratification and our satisfaction here and now to fill a hole that no man (or woman) can ever fill yet we think they can. Be encouraged that no matter the pain, the loss, or the heartache, when you are in Christ you are loved immeasurably more than you can feel, fathom, or imagine right now no matter whatever state or stage of life you find yourself in.

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