You Are More

"You Are More" By: Tenth Avenue North

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.

Now it's time for some honesty. This summer, I've been growing, maturing, healing, and falling more in love with my Savior than I ever have before. It has been challenging and humbling, but I know I am and will be a better woman of God because of it. Chris Fenner sent this song to my best friend Katy Click and me while we were away at the beach. Katy and I were fasting from our phones for two days so that we could enjoy our time with my family and just listen to God. We both started crying when we listened to this song and read the lyrics. I often (and by "often," I mean often...) struggle with believing that I'm good enough for anyone, let along my Savior and Creator because of the mistakes I've made in the past and because of how many times I've strayed from His promises and presence. He has done nothing but pursue me constantly, like Hosea did to his wife who was a prostitute and would constantly seek other men who weren't her husband. I do that everyday with God. I make everyday things in my life idols and seek them for pleasure and assurance and encouragement and things that I should be only seeking from my God who created me and knows me inside and out. He knows what I desire, but also what I need and what will benefit me and bring Him more glory.

I've also been learning that it's hard to forgive yourself. I know in my head and heart that God has forgiven me of every sin I've committed against Him, and although I forget that sometimes or find it hard to believe, it's even harder for me to look in the mirror and not remember those things. I am so not worthy of the forgiveness that God has poured over me. I fall short of His glory everyday. I doubt that I can be used by Him. I know I'm not alone in this struggle, but sometimes it takes over my mind and pulls at my heart so much that I feel overwhelmed and alone. I have friends that encourage me and a God that's constantly romanticizing me, but I forget that. I feel unworthy of that. So that's something else God's ben working through in my life this summer. It's been a great time of healing, forgiving myself, and accepting the great love that my Father has lavished upon me I John 3:1- "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." He's offering us His hand in marriage, a life of joy and peace, and complete forgiveness. All we have to do is accept. What an awesome gift!