During this journey we see a lot of rejection from doctors, friends, family, spouses, & complete strangers. It is hard sometimes to imagine we are valued by anyone least of all God. It feels like if He really valued us, He’d keep all the bad things from happening or if another human can’t see value in me then how can a mighty being like God value me? Then there’s that nagging thought of how can God see any value in these broken pieces of me? I can relate to all these thoughts on different levels, but I’m not so sure we are seeing this picture clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12).
It was earth shattering when I found out this is my new normal. Then to find out so many people in my life would vanish right when I needed them more than ever left me feeling desolate & abandoned. But God never moved from my side, in fact He brought close those best suited to take this journey with me. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive group. They constantly poured into me bringing me comfort to sooth the pain & reminding me of His truth to bolster me. As they & God ministered to me the scales from my eyes slowly began to shed & I could see the truth (Acts 9:18).
The truth is that He does truly care & values me He always seeks out the lost 1 in the 99 & believe me I was lost (Luke 15:3-6). He also shields & guards us in the howling waste, we are the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10). Do you know what it means to be the apple of His eye? It refers to the pupil, a delicate most essential part for vision & to be protected at all costs. That’s right, we are crucial to His vision & to be protected at all costs, even at the cost of His life on the cross. When I say vision, I don’t mean His literal eyesight I mean we are a vital part of His vision/plan for eternity. We are not an after thought & there is no circumstance that makes us less worth protecting & fighting for. He sees the beauty & potential in our struggles & brokenness. I mean how else does an oak become a tree without the breaking of the seed (John 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44).

Now if you are still wondering how is He protecting me in my current struggle, you must consider why you would need protection in the 1st place. Protection is only needed if there is danger to be protected from. Our Good Shepherd is aware of more than just one battle to be fought. While we are focused on the battle we can see there is another battle being fought & He is defending us on many different fronts (Ephesians 6:12). Often the most dangerous battle is that of the unseen spiritual battle that has eternal consequences. So when we don’t see the kind of protection we are looking for God is probably working a different angle like we discussed in yesterday’s story of Elijah. Like any good parent, God is working for the good of His children (Romans 8:28).
Bottom line friend, He loves us deeply & no matter what the world my throw our way He is ready to stand, defend & fight, but it is our choice to take what He is offering to fight at His side. Let Him help you see you & your circumstance more clearly as you move from suffering to joy!
Day 9 Challenge:
Since we are the apple of God’s eye, I’d like for you to stare into a mirror & look yourself in the eye & say aloud, “I am worth fighting for, I am loved, I am cherished, the apple of God’s eye. He promises in Deuteronomy 31:8 to never leave me or forsake me, God has my back.”