{this image and all the ones I create are free for you to use and share}
Dear You,
We all have moments when we feel alone. In a world where everyone seems to be connected, it seems ironic that studies show we’re more isolated than ever before. That sense of separateness can create cracks that let lies slip into our hearts.
Lies that say, “Everyone has more friends than you.”
Lies that taunt, “Maybe you don’t really belong here.”
Lies that even accuse, “If anyone really knew you, you wouldn’t be loved the same.”
Can we shudder together at the ugliness of those words? And then can we say as sisters that we won’t listen to them anymore?
You are not alone. I am not alone. Even in the moments when we feel like we are.
You do belong. You are wanted. You add value in ways no one else can.
That’s the way God created it to be. In the beginning, he said it wasn’t good for man to be alone so he created relationships with other human beings. He also promised that he would personally always be with us.
Here’s the catch: we still have the power to shut our hearts. We can say, “I feel alone sometimes, so there must be something wrong with me. I will hide away until I can become perfect. Then I will reveal who I really am.” We can go through a lifetime of church and work and parties this way—showing up but never really showing who we are.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead we can courageously say, “Here I am, imperfect and messy and broken. We all are. So let’s be that way together.”
Is this hard? Oh yes. Is it risky? Love always is. Yet it’s also the only way to dissolve the illusion that we’re alone, and to help others do the same. We’re better, stronger, more fully alive together.
I need you. You need me. We need each other.
XOXO
{inspired by John 13:34-35, 1 Thess. 5:11, Heb. 13:5 and adapted from If We Could Have Coffee (ebook)}
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Welcome to Coffee for Your Heart! The concept is simple: You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love to others with your words every Wednesday. The writing prompt I gave you last week was, “You’re not alone.” Now it’s time to link up your blog post or leave a comment sharing how you used that prompt to encourage someone this week!
Pretty please use this button in your post so others can easily join us {link the image back to https://holleygerth.com/coffee-for-your-heart-love/}…
The next writing prompt is this question: “What are the encouraging words you want to hear when you’re having a hard day?” Write a blog post on that theme and link it up here next Wednesday. And even if you don’t have a blog, we’d love for you to join us by leaving a comment that day.
p.s. If you’re linking up here, you should check out the Tell His Story link-up with Jennifer Dukes Lee and share your post there too!
