For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 8-10

I hate math! I have always been better with words.  Since I began homeschooling my children, I have a better respect for math and its usefulness, but it is definitely not my strength.

Statistics, which I never took in school, try to boss me around.  According to statistics, I should be this or that based upon the circumstances of my upbringing. Children with blabbity blah(insert one or all of the following: alcoholism, drug use, single parent, abuse, broken home,  fighting, anger, bitterness, etc.) will become what they were exposed to.  Yet, somehow this is not true of me.

Is this because I am so amazing and have superior coping skills?  Am I so smart as to outwit the peer pressure of my day?  I can assure you that neither of these are true.  I failed, fumbled, and foiled my way through life.  I often made situations worse by offering my two cents.  I ended relationships with my walls of silence. I could easily throw people away, because I didn’t value them.

I didn’t value myself.

But here’s the thing. I am valued. You are valued. Not by what we do or say…but by our Creator.

I didn’t become a statistic, because God kept me. He sustained, guarded, and protected me.  He surrounded me with his love through people who loved him and in turn loved me.  He spoke truth into my life of lies and confusion.  He broke through my walls and showed me I was worth fighting for.

This in turn, shows me that others are worth risking it all to love.  Being vulnerable and transparent shows others how Christ healed the dark secret places of my heart. This brings him glory and does others good.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 8-10

Will you take the risk of putting yourself out there?  Will you allow the Lord to show you how much you are worth?

He created you to be his amazing you! God has plans for you. Plans He established before you were born. You were born into and with a purpose!

Don’t let statistics, your past, or fears boss you around or keep you from all that Jesus has planned for you. For His glory, your good, and the good of others, dare to believe the truth about you!