Dealing With Your Labels

We all wear them.

Labels.

Some labels we like: Smart. Beautiful. Rich. Skinny. Successful.

Some not so much: Stupid. Ugly. Needy. Fat. Lacking.

But what about labels that go even deeper? Sometimes the adhesive leaves marks on our heart.

Scars.

The ones that cause us to lower our head. Avoid eye contact. They strike something so deep in us that we just want to run. From the stigma. From the memories.

From the pain.

Childless. Widowed. Divorced. Abused. Abandoned. Failure.

It doesn't matter who put the labels there. Sometimes we put them on ourselves. We may switch them out depending on circumstances and mood. Or attitude. Or who we're blaming. Or who we're mad at.

People in the Bible wore labels, too:

   ... King David, Adulterer
   ... Moses, Murderer
   ... Solomon, Idolater
   ... Judas, Betrayer
   ... Noah, Drunk

It's easy to label others. It doesn't cost us anything. We take a glance at the less-than-stellar aspects of someone else's life and our mental label makers start cranking. We hear malicious gossip and the label maker goes into high gear.

But you wear a label that trumps the rest. Made before the beginning of time by God Himself.

LOVED.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

He labeled us first. A manufacturer's stamp, so to speak. But we've covered it over. Allowed others to deface it with a mustache and beard.

Perhaps even tried to peel it off because you just don't feel worthy.

So how do we deal with our labels?

1. Pray. Maybe you're not aware of your specific detrimental labels. Ask God to reveal them to you.

2. Identify them accurately. You may struggle with insecurity, but that's a secondary emotion. The root is fear. Accurately identifying what you're afraid of opens doors of understanding.

3. Seek help. You may uncover serious issues under those labels that may be beyond your capability to properly work through. Seeking advice or guidance from a pastor, counselor, or support group may be in order.

4. Put on the Teflon of God's Word. When we view ourselves through God's love and forgiveness, finding our peace and contentment in Him alone, you'll discover that other labels won't stick for long. Filling your mind and heart to overflowing with His rich truths from Scripture leaves no room for mislabeling.

As you read through God's transforming Word, you'll notice that He also offers to us these life-restoring labels:

Forgiven - Psalm 86:5
Redeemed - Job 19:25
Pardoned - Psalm 103:3
Renewed - Isaiah 40:31

God's label doesn't change. You are always loved by Him. Regardless of what you've told yourself or heard from others. You are His priceless treasure. 

Worth creating.

   Worth dying for.

      Worth spending eternity with Him.

Wholly and completely loved like you've never been loved before.

What labels do you struggle with?
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