Chosen in My Mess
Revised for The Grace Anchored Journey
This morning, on my commute to work, I was searching for something meaningful to start my day. I found a podcast with two amazing godly women chatting — but after a few minutes, I realized I was getting cranky. “Just get to the point!” I thought. It was a good reminder that sometimes my heart needs a reset before my day even begins.
Lately, I’ve been on edge. Over the past year — especially the last few months — life has been full of changes. At work, I’ve struggled with feeling undervalued. In ministry, I’ve felt inadequate. And in quiet moments, I’ve felt alone.
Then I heard Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
I realized something powerful — I knew these feelings of inadequacy and isolation were lies, but I was letting them live rent-free in my mind. I wasn’t practicing the very things I knew to be true and praiseworthy. Instead, I had let negativity take over and it was shaping how I saw myself, my work, and my calling.
Because of that, I stepped back from ministry roles, felt unworthy to lead, and stopped saying yes to opportunities where God had placed me. I forgot that in Christ, I have authority to cast down lies (2 Corinthians 10:5) and stand on His truth.
But God, in His grace, reminded me of something important: even in my disobedience, frustration, and impatience, He still chooses me. Hosea shows us that God’s love pursues us in our mess. And that morning, He used Philippians 4:8 and Proverbs 20:24 to whisper to me:
“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
I don’t have to understand it all — I just have to trust Him.
These moments feel like love letters from God, reminding me that I am chosen, valued, and loved — not because I have it all together, but because of who He is.
Friend, you are chosen too. Whatever lies are screaming loud in your mind today, hold them up to Philippians 4:8. If they’re not true, honorable, just, pure, or lovely — call them out for what they are and replace them with the truth of God’s Word.
You are not too messy. You are loved, chosen, and pursued by the Most High King.
Originally Published February 4, 2022.
