While getting dressed this morning I had a flood of memories come back. It all started while I was putting on a camisole under a new top that the neckline falls a little low on.

I stood there with good and bad memories.

Memories of living a life wanting acceptance, approval and applause from the world. This makes me sad, but today I rejoice! I rejoice in the newness that comes from finding freedom from regret through the grace of God! And all this leads me to share this simple thought that I pray will rest sweetly in the hearts and minds of any gal reading:

We don’t have to try so hard!

we dont

Simple, right? But really. We don’t.

First and foremost, the acceptance, approval and applause of the world is never what we were made to desire or obtain. Wendy Blight with P31 shares it this way on her blog:

You are LOVED…

with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

You are PRECIOUS and VALUABLE…

your name engraved on the palm of His hand. (Isaiah 49:16)

You are WORTHY…

for He gave the life of His only Son, Jesus Christ, for you. (John 3:16)

You are FORGIVEN…

you need only repent of your sin. (Acts 3:19)

You are REDEEMED…

the old is gone and the new has come…in Christ you are a new creation! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You are SAVED FOR A PURPOSE…

one for which He specially created you. (Ephesians 2:10)

We don’t have to try so hard, nor should we if we are seeking to obtain value in the world. That was were the sadness came from this morning. As I pulled my shirt over my head and remembered the times I dressed for acceptance, approval and applause. Our value was meant to be greater than worldly measures.

Today my joy came from knowing and trusting:

The love of a King!

The grace of a Savior!

The compassion of a Friend!

The forgiveness of Christ!

This is greater than any acceptance, approval or applause from the world! And it’s right there for all of us girls. We are each “chosen and dearly loved”. We are more precious than silver or gold. We are “all beautiful and without flaw”!

Will you join me in doing something today? Will you take a moment to look in the mirror and say these simple words:

WE. DON’T. HAVE. TO. TRY. SO. HARD.

I. DON’T. HAVE. TO. TRY. SO. HARD.

Then smile!

Trust.

Believe.

And rest, cause you don’t have to try so hard.

Blessings, Jodie

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.1 He will take great delight2 in you, he will quiet you with his love,3 he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 

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