You are not what happened to you!

As I was making videos for Instagram, I noticed that my new hat still had the price tag on it. And printed boldly on it was the word: "Reduced." Yikes, how embarrassing!

It made me think…how often do we go through life, perhaps without even realizing it, as if the label "reduced" were written all over us? But nothing could be further from the truth! As a line from one of my songs in German says, "You are not what happened to you. Because you're worth something!"

Each of us has experienced terrible or traumatic things that have shaped our lives. The question is…how much power do you give that chapter of your life, the one coming to your mind right now? Do you let it jump out of the frame and make a book of it, or do you allow it to be a chapter that ends?

I actually wrote the song, "Because You're Worth Something" because of the chapter in my life when I was sexually assaulted. It was probably the most horrible moment of my life, and I actually thought, "That's it. No good can come of your life now."

Here is a crucial promise to hold on to in moments like these, a lifeline for us: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time." (Psalm 34:18-19, NLT)

The tears and pain were an important part of my healing journey as I processed what I'd experienced. I also believe it's very important to seek help and not isolate ourselves in times of trauma. But there's one thing that must not happen: these chapters must not become the reason we wear hats that say "reduced" or "less than"!

Remember this today: to God, you are not what happened to you—you are priceless to Him. (see Luke 12:7)

If you're seeking to get past a certain chapter of your life, I'd like to encourage you to stand in front of the mirror and consciously say this aloud: "I am not what happened to me. I am worth something!"

You are a miracle!

Dèborah

P.S. The texts of this reading come from the daily email A Miracle Every Day. If you want to receive an email every day, I invite you to subscribe to A Miracle Every Day.