Day Thirty-Three: Insecure Identities

        Busying myself with ranch work helped me ignore the worries trying to crawl up from my gut during my son's deployment to Iraq. "No news is good news," my son told me several times. I walked out of the barn to find out what had set the dog alarms off. Stepping out of a long black car, two men in suits stepped out onto our gravel drive and started walking toward the barn where I stood frozen in place. My heart raced and I recalled my son's words, "No news is good news. If something  happens they will let you know." For a second I thought this was the visit that every parent with a deployed child dreads. The thoughts of the day a military official shows up at your door with bad news linger somewhere just below your subconscious continuously until the day you hold that child in your arms again safe and sound on the homeland. Just short of collapsing I reminded myself that military uniforms, not black suits, would be the appropriate apparel to deliver any devastating news. Eager to confirm my presumptions, I am sure in a less than friendly tone I blurted out, "What do you want?" I may not have seemed very Christian-like to those two Jehovah Witnesses as I sent them on their way but I hope they realized how much of a start they gave me.  We don't get many unannounced visitors out here in the country and it was just really bad timing on their part.
      I don't know if I will respond any better if it happens again during my daughter's deployment to Afghanistan. However, I am armed with a new tool I learned at our family deployment briefing. The Army psychologist somewhat repackaged my son's 'no news is good news' advice. He advised us to rely only on the facts that we know and not to fill in the blanks with our emotions or imaginations. If you haven't heard from your soldier in a week or two, don't imagine the worst. Stick to the facts that you know- last time you heard from them they were fine. They are fine until you receive new facts.
       When you're weary, tired of struggling, or feeling insignificant or insecure, the same advice holds true. Believe what you know from God's word not what Satan wants you to feel from the lies and deception of this world. Stick with the facts that you know to be true. You are a child of God; a prince or princess in the Royal family of Christ. God loves you unconditionally. God knows what is going on in your life... he is not surprised by the men in black in suits. No matter what you think or feel is going on-- remember God has the plan for you; "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
        God tested John's character for many years of seemingly insignificance in preparation for him to receive a great prophecy and write Revelations. "If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things." 1 John 3:20 Don't let your desire for worldly significance overshadow who you already are in God's eyes: you are significant; fearfully and wonderfully made in your mother's womb-- God created your inmost being and His works are wonderful.
STUDY GUIDE

Follow along in JOHN: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore pages 159-162
 Read 1 John 3:18-22
 Answer the questions in your study guide.
 Share a brief highlight or two from your thoughts and answers in a comment posted to the group. (Read guidelines and cautions posted August 1, 2010 before you post).
 Read the comments of others and share your thoughts and encouragement with them by replying to their comments. Identify which post you are responding to by addressing them and their subject or pasting a brief portion of their reply at the start of your post.

PRAY WITH ME:
Heavenly Father, teach us to look for your fruit in all that we do without dwelling on our personal significance. We long to know that we are making a difference but don't let our desire for approval from the world  flourish in our hearts. Let our hearts be filled with knowing our significance comes from your very hands; creating us to do your good works and to be called children of the King. In Jesus name, Amen.