Labels

So, while revising Psychology today I came across a theory which makes a lot of sense. It's called the labelling theory. Basically a guy called Scheff said that when we give someone a label people are more likely to change their behaviour so they live up to that label.

In the midst of my revision this got me thinking. So often we are trying to live up to labels that people place on us.

We try to be that 'best friend', the one who is always there, who listens all the time, who never slips up,  who never gets cross, who always encourages. And when we fall flat on our faces and aren't thee ultimate best friend, we feel like failures.

We try to be 'a leader', the one who can organise things, who everyone relies on, who people trust, who listens to everybody. And when we fail at this we feel like we are useless and can't be used.

We try to be the 'perfect boyfriend/girlfriend', the one who loves the other person for who they are, who makes them feel special, who knows when something is wrong, who makes them smile when no one else can. Yet when you go through a break up you begin to doubt that you are worth loving or worth caring about or whether you will ever find the one person for you if you keeping messing up.

Any of these ring any bells. I know when I can relate to these and so many more. The older I get and the more experiences I go through, I am beginning to see that we will never be able to satisfy the world and we will always feel like a failure because the devil is out to make us feel that way and make us feel like we are incapable and worthless

But guess what, we do not have to live up to any of these labels which are placed on us. We don't have to live in a world where we constantly face disappointment and feelings of uselessness. In fact God has given us "the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Children of a King who is higher than any one else, who has the whole world in his hands.

We are told that "God sent him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves" (Galatians 4:5) You see the thing is when we come to be in a relationship with God and begin to know his character and what he wants for us we see that we truly have freedom. He has taken away the "sin which so easily entangles" us and in return has given us freedom and we no longer have to live up to those labels which the world places on our shoulders.

Also, instead of feeling worthless when we slip up and don't live up to these labels, God tells us how much worth we actually have.

"Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you more valuable to him than they are?" (Matthew 6:26) - Here we can see that God sees us as valuable, more valuable to him than any other creature he has made. We were made in his image and we are worth something to him. He has a plan for all of us and he wants what is best for us. He "works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28). And whether you believe it or not he can use you, no one is useless to him.

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10) - In fact in our times of weakness is when God shows his strength. When we are at our lowest and the world is telling us that we are useless, that we have nothing to give, that is when God will step in and give us a strength that is beyond imaginable. He can use you, if you let him and ask him to.

So yes, I do not know what you are going through right now. Maybe you feel like you can't do anything for anyone, that you are useless, and you always slip up. Well I hope this blog has helped you to see that God can and will use you. He wants you to run to him so that he can use our weaknesses and flaws to bring glory to his Kingdom. You don't have to be a slave to the labels which you are given. You don;t have to pretend to be someone else that you really aren't because labels cannot define you as a person. They aren't your identity if you are in Christ. Christ is you identity.

Hopefully this has encouraged you and feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions (I don't promise to have the answers to them all but I will try!)

Wrote with love,
Jemma.

Prayer Changes Things.

New Year, New You. Never more have I felt this way than at the start of this year.

I've been struggling lately. Struggling to find that time in the day to open my Bible and dive into its contents. But today (which was actually like 3 days ago now!), I really felt like I needed to open my Bible and I turned to the place in my devotions notes and up pops this title, "Prayer Changes Things". It's fair to say I was taken back. Here's why...

These past weeks, which has turned into months life has been hectic. I never seemed to have a minute to myself and I was becoming agitated and very down. I was short with people, I was rude, I got jealous quicker, I was envious, I cried (I always cry but that's another matter!). I began to feel like I didn't fit in, didn't have a voice and that what I did say never really mattered. Life just wasn't joyful and I was finding it tough.

But now I realise why! The answer: I lost all sight of God in it! I hadn't spent time reading His word and talking to Him. That is when the devil slipped in and tried to tear me up. He was trying to tell me that I didn't matter, that my opinions and thoughts weren't worth thinking about, that I was worthless. During this time I had complained to various other people, even cried my heart out to them but I hadn't taken my problems and hurt and worries to my Father who loves me so much and wants to help me. But tonight that changed.

For the first time in 7 weeks and 6 days, I opened my Bible, studied it and it was all about David crying out to God! I was just like, What even? This is exactly what I needed to see! Some may say that it was a coincidence, I beg to differ... God knew I needed to read that.

When I read the passage and my bible notes to go along with it I realised I had so much to tell God. To bring Him up to speed with my life. Yes, it's true, He knows everything, but I never told Him. But tonight I just poured out my heart to Him. I had forgotten how powerful prayer is. It has given me strength to carry on, strength to know I am not living life by myself, strength that I have been missing.

And after talking about how I was feeling I realise that I need to get stuck into the Bible and learn it, so when the devil tries to attack I can fight back by quoting the most powerful weapon of all.

So this new year, I plan on to keep prayer central. By doing this I can't wait to see how it affects the way that I view life and how it changes things. I know that I won't always be perfect and I'll slip up and lose sight of God, but thankfully we have a heavenly father who gives us his unconditional love and will forgive us when we come to him.

So yes just some thoughts I have had lately and hopefully they have encouraged you. (I do apologise if this seems a little bit all over the place, I'm just a tad tired as I write this.)

Another thing which I am planning on doing this year is to keep a little jar and everyday I am going to find something to be thankful for everyday. I'm kinda excited to start this one and then read them all at the end of 2015. (Bit random but sure YOLO!)

And to finish here are some of my highlights from 2014:

Birthdays 

Weddings and my brother's engagement

Sightseeing with my mummy on holiday

Mullartown - growing in my faith and making lifelong friends

Roma - thee best trip I have ever been on

Dressing up as Mary Poppins and finding a true friend in this girl

Being able to study the Bible with these girls and build friendships

Having a pen pal and getting wisdom from this woman!

Celebrating New Years Eve with these three and many more!

 Wishing you all a very happy 2015! It's gonna be an exciting year! And hopefully I'll blog a little bit more! :)


Wrote with love,

Jemma.