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Dear RYC: You Were Born to be Loved

I’m writing this open letter to my some of my favorite people in the entire world. To some seriously radical high schoolers who are passionately on fire for Jesus. Honestly though, I hope this letter is read by many others and encourages you, my dear readers. When I was in highschool I was a student at RYC (Revolution Youth Church) for two years. I spent about three years as a leader in our church’s youth group. RYC has a very special place in my heart and I miss our students dearly. I have never seen students at this age who run so fast and whole heartedly to Jesus. They are brave, courageous, and so genuine. This is for you guys.

Dear RYC,

Wow guys. It’s been a minute and I miss you all so much. I think and pray for you often. After praying one day I felt it on my heart to write you guys a letter. It made me laugh at first. This is what the apostles did, writing letters to churches!!!

There has been one phrase that I have been meditating on since August when I attended training camp.

You were born to be loved.

You, yes you. Our Heavenly Father profoundly created you to be loved by Him. Let that sink in. It’s difficult to love God when we don’t allow Him to Love us first. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16. This may seem like, duh Maia, we all know God loves us. Even if you didn’t grow up in Sunday School it’s practically on a billboard in every city. Yet we try so hard to love God with everything in us, but when we allow Him to love us first, loving Him comes naturally. Until we actually experience His love, do we really know? To really know is to experience. Even recently I have been challenged by this truth. Let’s continue to experience more of His love.

Nothing you do can change the Father’s love for you. You are simply enough for Him and the pressure is off. This is where you are meant to be, in fellowship with Jesus. You don’t have to prove a thing, because He has already approved of you. You don’t have to strive, just abide. As I am learning this concept myself, I wanted to send you this encouragement. You were BORN TO BE LOVED. On top of that, “He has always been! It is HIS HAND that HOLDS everything together.” (Emphases added) Colossians 1:17.

The pressure of trying to tightly hold your finances, family, relationships, school, ministry, work, the next step, and life together is not for you to hold. Breathe. He holds it. Even if you feel broken and in a billion pieces from all the pressure, He will put you back together. His loves mends us. I can’t help but think of the song, Defender, by Rita Springs.

“When I thought I lost me, you knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to your love. You picked up all my pieces. Put me back together, you are the defender of my heart.”

Let His love and peace rush in. Holy Spirit has been teaching me that I am a daughter of God before I am a servant for Him. When I plug into that source of being a daughter (loved by her Heavenly Father) first, the posture of my heart shifts to a joyful place, even when I’m spiritually exhausted. When I don’t, I feel like I am a poor servant who often fails God. Although I often do fail, remembering I’m a daughter first helps me relax in the truth. I am simply a daughter who loves being an ambassador and serving her Father! The weight of my own failure begins to lift. I was born to be loved and so were you.

He will tell you where to go!! After all, He is the way, truth, and life. You are the will of God. Take a deep breath in. I know life is messy and hard. It’s confusing, exhausting, and plain tough. On top of that it’s easy to be hard on ourselves. It’s easy to condemn ourselves for our failures. Yet, the Father knows all things and loves us deeply. “There is a sure way for us to know that we belong to the truth. Even though our inner thoughts may condemn us with storms of guilt and constant reminders of our failures, we can know in our hearts that in His presence God Himself is greater than any accusation. He knows all things.” 1 John 3:19-20 (The Voice). Let everything else flow from the overflow. You don’t even have to hold yourself together. Let His perfect love rush in.  Ask Jesus what He thinks about you. Ask Him if you’re enough for Him. Ask Him what He thinks about love. I dare you.

I love you guys,

Maia

4 Comments

  1. This is beautiful, Maia! I heard the song “Defender” at church this morning…thank you for putting into words so many thoughts that were stirring around in my heart!

  2. Thanks for the reminder. Opening hearts to the Father’s love truly fills us up and allows us to spread Love.

  3. I love what you said about allowing God to love us first. It’s so true…we can’t love Him (ourselves or anyone else) unless we allow His love to open up our hearts.

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