Doubt

You reach out to grab something - there's nothing there.
You look inside yourself - there's nothing - it's empty.
You look for people who love and care - there's no one there.

Is this how you feel?
Squashed?
Crumpled?
Flattened?
Worthless?
Hopeless?
Empty?

There's no point.
There's no reason to live.
Everything's ended.

Let me tell you a story -
One night a man dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
As scenes of his life flashed before him, he noticed that there were two sets of
footprints in the sand. He also noticed at his saddest, lowest times there was one set of footprints. This bothered the man and he asked the Lord,
"Did you not promise that if I gave you my heart to you
that you'd be with me
all the way?
Then why is there only one set of footprints
 during my most troublesome times?"
The Lord replied, "My precious child, I love you and would
never forsake you.
 During those times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
 it was then that I
carried you."

Let me share some things I know -
IN CHRIST

I am accepted -
 
I am God's child- John 1:12
I am Christ's friend- John 15:15
I have been justified- Romans 5:1
I am united with the Lord, and am one spirit with him- 1 Corinthians 6:17
I have been bought with a price. I belong to God-1Corinthians 6:19-20
I am a member of Christ's body- 1Corinithians 12:27
I am a saint- Ephesians 1:1
I have been adopted as God';s child- Ephesians 1:5
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit- Ephesians 2:18
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins- Colossians 1:14
I am complete in Christ- Colossians 2:10

I am secure -

I am free forever from condemnation- Romans 8:1-2
I am assured that all things work together for good- Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemning charges against me-Romans 8:31-34
I cannot be separated from the love of God- Romans 8:35-39
I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I are hidden with Christ in God- Colossians 3:3
I are confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected- Philippians 1:6
I am a citizen of heaven- Philippians 3:20
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind- 2 Timothy 1:7
I can find grace and mercy in the time of need- Hebrews 4:16
I are born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me- 1John 5:18

I am significant -

I am the salt and light of the earth- Matthew 5:13-14
I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life- John 15:1,5
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit- John15;16
I am a personal witness of Christ's- Acts 1:8
I am God's temple-1 Corinthians 3:16
I am a minister of reconciliation for God- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
I am God's co-worker- 2 Corinthians 6:1
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm- Ephesians 2:6
I am God's workmanship- Ephesians 2:10
I may approach God with freedom and confidence- Ephesians 3:12
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me- Philippians 4:13

Let me share something else I know - as soon as you read out these statements and start to know that you are loved, cared for, that someone thinks you're amazing, beautiful, have, potential then
everything we said before, you will know is actually lies.

It may take you time to believe it. But if you read the above statements you said them, even if only to yourself and before you know it you will read and say them out loud.

 But for now let's go that one step further and say these words with me.

Father,
I don't want to feel alone.
I don't want to feel helpless.
I don't want to feel like a nobody.
I don't want to go unnoticed.
I don't want to feel empty.
I want to know I'm worth something.
I want to know someone cares.

I want to know I have infinite value because of the cross.
I want to know I am loved and cared for because you loved me so much that Jesus took all my sin, all my punishment, all my guilt, all my shame, all my pain and nailed it to the cross.

I thank you that I have a best friend that will never leave me - ever and wants to be included in my life.

I'm sorry that I believed the lies.
Help me to accept and believe the truth.

Amen.