His Encouragement #59

Happy Thursday! I am blessed to be a part of a group of bloggers who feel led to share a bit of encouragement each week from the Bible. We recognize our daily need for Christ and we aim to share that with our readers. Plus, when Thursday comes around, we can all use a little encouragement right? I hope that this post blesses you and that you find comfort, strength, and peace in the Lord today ❤

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So here is the deal. Last week I shared from the verse:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

~1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

I also talked about the saying “Satan is a stupidface,” which one of my closest friends started to use several years ago whenever we talked about the attacks of Satan. I talked about how we need to look to God’s Truth instead of Satan’s lies to help pull us from our pits, and how God’s power is infinitely greater than Satan’s. What I didn’t talk about was my personal application to this, and since it’s been constantly on my mind this week I felt a need to share more on this.

Not to spend too much time and detail on the matter, I’ll try to put this in a nutshell as much as I can. When I was little I was bullied pretty heavily. It was the type of bullying that often led me to tears when I got off the bus at night. It wasn’t abnormal for me to come home with some kind of new mark, whether it was physical or emotional. I didn’t always talk about it because I was told to “just ignore them and they’ll leave you alone.” But let me tell you this–that doesn’t work. When all a child wants is friends and to feel loved and accepted by others–it puts a weight on them that they can’t possible handle on their own to reinvent themselves in hopes that they can become someone that others will like. Do you want to know a secret? I’m 32 now and still struggle with this. I still look at people and wonder if they really want to be my friend or they’re just being nice. I still look at people and think that they are talking trash about me in their minds. Kids are more known to speak their minds, but adults are more likely to either speak in their heads or behind your back. A few weeks ago a friend of mine shared a meme on Facebook that was sadly true:

But why do we feel this way? Is this merely the product of bullying or anxiety–or is it simply being human? Does everything feel this way but only some are willing to say it out loud? (Although let me be clear here, I don’t say this out loud. I just think it in my head and share here where hopefully I won’t be judged for it. You can believe I’ll be thinking about though). When people meet me I’m often considered a bubbly person. My college nickname was Spunky if you can believe it–and a few people still happen to call me that. What people don’t often see though, is the crippling fear that I’m not really liked at all. I hear the names kids used to call me running through the minds of other people–whether they are thinking them or not. If someone says they like me I immediately fear they are lying. But THAT my friends–is where Satan lies. THIS is my Satan is a stupidface moment. Now, maybe there are people who think that–but the constant running through my mind of everyone feeling that way is where I am tripped up. And yes, I recognize that our value isn’t in what others think of us, but what God does. It’s still a difficult battle though.

I don’t know if you have a similar battle or one that is completely different, but what I hope you can take away from this is that Satan is very cunning. He knows our weak spots and that’s where he attacks us. That’s what makes him a stupidface and a bully. My friend’s intent when creating the saying was to get us to call him out for his lies. To not let him have any power over our thoughts. To instead meditate on God’s Truth found in the scriptures. The more you listen to a lie the more power it holds over you. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap. Instead, look to God and His Word and find the truth that will set you free from bondage. Look to your Heavenly Father for the unconditional love only He is perfectly able to give. Satan wants to tear you down and defeat you so that you are useless. God wants you to know your worth in Him and that He loves you enough that He sent His son to die for you so that you could have a right relationship with Him. People will fail you. Satan will lie to you. God loves you and always will. Know the truth. Speak the truth. Don’t give the lies even a second to take root.

Now, it’s your turn!

What Biblical verse is encouraging you today?

And, check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Gina @ Stories By Gina

Rebecca @Rev. Rebecca Writes

If you would like to join us: please contact Trisha or Nicole