Something More
“For we know, brothers [and sisters] loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 Thessalonians 1:4).
My daughter, I see you. So beautiful.
Daughter, you are so beautiful.
I know you feel distracted by many things, but I call you to something greater. It is greater not because of the size of it or because it will give you security or fame.
It is greater because it gives you the joy of your heart, the heart that sings with Me and knows my name and the sound of my voice in you. It is greater because it is best for you. It is what I have made for you to do, with Me.
Remember that only the things that I call you to do with Me will bring you joy—the deep, true joy that makes you glad you are living and that give you energy and excitement to raise that weary head of yours to face another day.
The things I call you to do with Me may make you tired, your body growing weary from work and your heart aching from the love I give you for others. But your soul is not weary.
Your hope in Me and the joy you have in completing with Me the task I have given you to do spurs you on so that you can’t imagine life before this joy.
But you do remember, don’t you?
You know what it feels like to be weary of spirit, weary of heart. Let Me take those burdens, child. Let Me take the weight of regret and indecision and worry. Let Me carry you and bring clarity to your days.
Eyes on Me, child.|
What I give you to do brings joy and challenge, hope and work. And it is work that stirs your heart and brings life to your days because then you are not distracted by other things and are working alongside Me.
|| More Resources For You ||
My heart for Loop and Loop Encounter has always been to help women like you and me encounter God and each other in profound ways. That’s also the heart behind Rapt—where men and women can read about life-changing ideas, hear real-life stories of faith and devotion, and discover new tools and essential resources to complement their spiritual growth journeys. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, I recommend signing up for the Rapt Newsletter. It’s free and comes out twice a month. Justin and I alternate pointing to our most beloved Rapt resource that has touched our hearts–and we think you’ll love–and we also share interviews, articles, free digital resources, and a question to ponder throughout your week.
“Tenderness covers all things— / at the train station where passengers, / luggage bulky, pound knees as they / ascend the narrow stairs, / and the breakfast table, cluttered / with beautiful detritus–a blue bowl / of cereal, a spoon sunk into milk / laced with sugar, and stacks / of music pages, / the violinist’s composition / singing, robust and full-hearted, / tucked hastily / into a canvas backpack / for the bike ride to school, / all beginning, this / journey ahead, with preparation, / each movement a choice, ‘Do I / take this with me?’ or ‘Do I leave it / here?’ Here, where we plumb / desire and ask permission to give / it all, give this day all, we / ever have.” —“All We Have and Then.” I wrote this within my daily Morning Pages several weeks ago, which I posted about here. A question for you: Where can you intentionally pause today and hear your Shepherd’s voice?
When life dumps trial after trial on us, it’s tempting to retreat — to pull into ourselves, shut off our creativity, try to approach things practically. Meanwhile, our Savior is beckoning us to simply come closer. Closer, He says. Sara Haggerty says it this way: “Friends who’ve had a piece or two of your young dreams drop on the ceramic tile and shatter across your lives, or to those who’ve felt as if the whole of you is now found in a thousand pieces: it may be time to take the very risky step of re-imagining, with God. It’s safer to silence the childhood wonder that causes a girl to see a home in the woods or a boy to see an adventure at the top of a tree. But safe is often stale.” → I don’t want safe. I don’t want stale. I want more wonder, joy, and abundance. I want to participate with God in reimagination. You, too?
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