I remember the moment like it was yesterday. \u00a0I was 8 years old and away from my family for the first time for a week of Kids Camp with my church. \u00a0It was one of the best, most memorable times of my childhood. \u00a0And the scene that follows left an immeasurable impression on my mind and heart.<\/p>\n
While drying my hands in the bathroom, one of the counselors whom I greatly admired and loved, said to me, \u201cCarissa, you\u2019re so cute!\u201d Boom. \u00a0The words were spoken, and those words felt so good. \u00a0I had a new goal. \u00a0I wanted to be \u201ccute\u201d all of the time. \u00a0I wanted to feel special, noticed, admired, and loved every day.<\/p>\n
But the fact remains: I\u2019m not as \u201ccute\u201d as I once was. \u00a0Over the past 17 years of my life, there have been way more \u201cnon-cute\u201d comments directed my way. \u00a0And so, I\u2019m sitting here, writing to you as a scarred and broken woman. \u00a0Because of the Fall, I\u2019m cursed with a longing to be beautiful and irreplaceable. Since the world has shown me more coldness than warmth, I\u2019m guarded. \u00a0I know I\u2019m not alone in this either. \u00a0My guarded mindset is driven from fear—fear of being vulnerable. \u00a0Every woman deals with this fear differently. \u00a0The two main methods, pointed out by our authors of this book, are either domination or desolation.<\/p>\n
So how do you deal? \u00a0Do you play the defense, trying to control your situation and others, sometimes even masking your controlling nature as \u201ccaring\u201d for others? \u00a0Or are you a wallflower, preferring to be silent and unseen, thus also controlling your situation instead of surrendering it to God?<\/p>\n
We must realize that these two attitudes are inspired by fear, a fear that was not sent from God. \u00a0Ladies, 1 John 4 affirms that \u201cGod is love.\u201d And we know that \u201cperfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.\u201d \u00a0So if we live in love, then God lives in us and fear has no place to dwell.<\/p>\n
So no matter which woman you identify with (either dominating or desolate\u2026or maybe both) and no matter how much you try to control or how well you hide, God knows your heart. \u00a0He knows the motives behind everything you do. \u00a0He knows every thought, every attitude, every action, and every reaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing in all creation is hidden from God\u2019s sight. \u00a0Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account\u201d (Hebrews 4:13).<\/p>\n
God wants you to know Him, too. \u00a0He wants you to know freedom from your fears and past hurts; He wants you to know the depth of His love for you. \u00a0He wants you to know that in His eyes, you are way more than \u201ccute.\u201d \u00a0You are beautiful and irreplaceable. He delights in you because you are captivating<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Praise Him,<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carissa<\/p>\n **********<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s Pray <\/p>\n ________________<\/p>\n
\nOur beautiful and wonderful Savior, thank You for who You are, thank You for creating us in Your image, thank You for the beauty that you instilled in each woman. \u00a0Father, I pray that every day, we will wake to dwell in You because You are\u00a0love. \u00a0I pray against the Evil One and his attacks on our hearts with fear and doubt. \u00a0Help us to daily surrender our lives to you \u2013 surrender our desires to both control and hide. \u00a0Father, we know that we can do all things through You because You are our strength. \u00a0In Your precious name we pray, Amen.
\n<\/b><\/b>
\nYour Assignment
\n<\/b><\/b>Are you more dominating or desolate? \u00a0Can you see how these attitudes stem from fear? \u00a0What are some ways we can daily practice to abide in love and thus reveal the beauty within each of us?<\/p>\n