Thanks for sharing. What has helped me more than anything is scriptures about not fearing man....not answering to man. God is who matters. I'm still growing in this. But those have been the "gasoline" to fuel my growth!
I often think of your favorite verse, "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14). It encourages me. Thanks for commenting.
God often encourages me and gives me a sense of validation through my 7-year-old grandson, which is especially sweet because of how difficult it was for all of us when he first came to live with my husband and I about two and a half years ago. I desperately prayed for grace, strength, love, and wisdom, and God always answered, sometimes with just enough for that day.
Now he talks about the “crack in (his) heart” that has been “healing.”He says still has it, but it's smaller now and getting better.
I overheard him telling his grampa that his favorite thing to do was to play with him outside. Another day he asked me, “Do you know where’s my favorite place to be?…next to you.” Those little kisses from God are validating. He brings us such joy.
I love hearing about your relationship with your little grandson. I read your comment several times. When you wrote, "God always answered, sometimes with just enough for that day." That made me think because it's so true. He gives us what we need each day. It would help me to think that way, even in terms of validation. Thanks
Thank you both for sharing so openly. I can totally relate to you, Todd on this. I never really thought it may have started from moving around as a school aged kid. Rather I focused more on the "raised my a single mom" causes which were also validation deserts at times. But to answer your question, Patty I have had to almost ritualistically recite passages to myself like Judges 6:12. And there was a season that I actually had to look myself in the mirror and "try" to recite Psalms 139:14. I say try because when I first started the exercise, I literally couldn't complete the first line. Being believed in and hired by one evangelist and fired by his successor made me bitter for a long time that I lost my validation. When I had to finally realize, I was giving both of these brothers WAAAAAY too much power of validation over me. And that I still was a disciple of Christ, believed in by him to do his work on earth. However, I also have learned that these exercises only work if I 1. Totally believe the word of God and 2. Continue to do them as each season of life changes and new lack of validation situations present themselves. I am in one now with the loss of a job/income/identity. I have to continually fight off Satan's whispers about how worthless I am (reminds me of the musical Slingshot with Saul's dilemma with Satan in his ear). Thanks again guys. We will continue to pray for your success.
Bud, thank you so much for taking the time to write all of this out. You have some amazing insights. I’m gonna go back over this later and try some of your techniques. You’re in my prayers too.
Thanks for sharing. What has helped me more than anything is scriptures about not fearing man....not answering to man. God is who matters. I'm still growing in this. But those have been the "gasoline" to fuel my growth!
I often think of your favorite verse, "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14). It encourages me. Thanks for commenting.
God often encourages me and gives me a sense of validation through my 7-year-old grandson, which is especially sweet because of how difficult it was for all of us when he first came to live with my husband and I about two and a half years ago. I desperately prayed for grace, strength, love, and wisdom, and God always answered, sometimes with just enough for that day.
Now he talks about the “crack in (his) heart” that has been “healing.”He says still has it, but it's smaller now and getting better.
I overheard him telling his grampa that his favorite thing to do was to play with him outside. Another day he asked me, “Do you know where’s my favorite place to be?…next to you.” Those little kisses from God are validating. He brings us such joy.
I love hearing about your relationship with your little grandson. I read your comment several times. When you wrote, "God always answered, sometimes with just enough for that day." That made me think because it's so true. He gives us what we need each day. It would help me to think that way, even in terms of validation. Thanks
Thank you both for sharing so openly. I can totally relate to you, Todd on this. I never really thought it may have started from moving around as a school aged kid. Rather I focused more on the "raised my a single mom" causes which were also validation deserts at times. But to answer your question, Patty I have had to almost ritualistically recite passages to myself like Judges 6:12. And there was a season that I actually had to look myself in the mirror and "try" to recite Psalms 139:14. I say try because when I first started the exercise, I literally couldn't complete the first line. Being believed in and hired by one evangelist and fired by his successor made me bitter for a long time that I lost my validation. When I had to finally realize, I was giving both of these brothers WAAAAAY too much power of validation over me. And that I still was a disciple of Christ, believed in by him to do his work on earth. However, I also have learned that these exercises only work if I 1. Totally believe the word of God and 2. Continue to do them as each season of life changes and new lack of validation situations present themselves. I am in one now with the loss of a job/income/identity. I have to continually fight off Satan's whispers about how worthless I am (reminds me of the musical Slingshot with Saul's dilemma with Satan in his ear). Thanks again guys. We will continue to pray for your success.
Bud, thank you so much for taking the time to write all of this out. You have some amazing insights. I’m gonna go back over this later and try some of your techniques. You’re in my prayers too.