Has anyone ever called you their Beloved? This word became very personal as I began a journey from a marriage of 21 years to the world of divorce, despair and feeling completely unloved. The journey has been difficult yet re-defining!
After I discovered my marriage was dissolving, I had to pick myself up, pull up my bootstraps and get back on the horse. It wasn’t always fun. In fact, it was downright scary and lonely. In the process however, I discovered some new truths about myself and about God’s will for my life.
A friend from church invited me to a Women’s Retreat of which I promptly and emphatically said, “NO”! She insisted and I reluctantly attended. I carried all of my baggage (my hurts, my pain, my shame) into this retreat. Needless to say, my attitude was less than pleasant.
During the first session, the speaker asked us to go to a place by ourselves and find a name that God was giving us. “Right”, I muttered under my breath. I slogged off and flippantly opened my Bible. It opened to Deuteronomy 33:12:
12 About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
The word BELOVED simply jumped off of that page and seared into my brain. I broke! The tears began to flow and the dam of pity, grief, loss and pain all came flowing out.
God in His amazing wisdom knew that deep down my biggest issue was not feeling loved. He showed me that not only am I loved, I am BELOVED! This was transformational for me.
Perhaps you too feel unloved, unwanted or simply beaten up by life. I urge you to go before God and really tell Him your thoughts. He is there and He does listen. He cares so much about you down to the number of hairs on your head!
Never again do you need to feel unloved. YOU are BELOVED dear one. Claim it and begin living again!