Distraction of Dialogue 2

If GOD hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, GOD, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. Psalm 94:17-19 MSG

Dialogue, I am referring to internal dialogue. Those silent messages we give to ourselves that no one else hears, nor would we want them to hear. As a school counselor, I work with middle school aged youth, many who fight the battle of negative internal messages. This age is so vulnerable to the expectations of the world. Whether its beauty, goals, academics, or popularity, they measure the value of their life by outside factors and expectations of which they have no control.

They create a self-deprecating inner dialogue that typically begins with;
you can’t …, you’ll never…, why don’t you. . .?
It is saddening to see these beautiful, handsome, capable young people constantly tearing themselves down and doubting themselves. They can be surrounded with positive accolades, but they will hear the one negative comment and it will shoot them down like a hot air balloon.

Are you someone who allows the words, looks, or actions of another person control your thoughts and send you to a place of embarrassment and intimidation? Some of us are just as vulnerable as middle schoolers and more prone to believe the negative messages about ourselves, before we believe the positive ones. We work hard to measure to the expectations around us how ever we are very aware of our shortcomings and are fearful that everyone else can see them as well. Don’t let the external measures of society’s expectation be the internal measuring stick that you use to assess your value. God wants you to assess your value for what He has created you to be. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by our creator.

Wonderfully made! Unique! Beautiful! We have the choice! Do we allow our internal dialogue to perpetuate the negative messages? Or do we fight against them with the positive messages we may receive from others, better yet, battle against the negative messages with the powerful and loving Word of God. By reading scriptures and laying them on our heart, we can remind ourselves and others who struggle with this distraction, the following messages, We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are victorious. We do not need to measure our value by a comparison to outside expectations but our value is measured by the heart and the spirit the love that’s within us.

What’s your internal dialogue? Do you build yourself up or tear yourself down? Do you hear the sweet voice of your loving Lord or is it drowned out by the loud expectations of the world?

Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord! How good you are! You created me unique and special in your eyes. I may not compete with the expectations of the world, but I am pleasing to you. Help me to replace messages that limit my potential with your continuing messages of strength, grace and love. Your love for me continues on forever. Amen ( Psalm 106:1)