Paper Altars

You will be called by a new name that the Lord himself will give you. You will be a majestic crown in the hand of the Lord. You will no longer be called “Abandoned,” indeed, you will be called “My delight is in her,” for the Lord will take delight in you.

–Isaiah 62:2-4

When I first came across this passage, I was drowning in self-doubt. I had chosen my sin one too many times. God was done with me because I couldn’t pull myself together. I couldn’t be good, and I had given up trying to be good. He didn’t want me. I was disgusted with myself, so surely God was too, right? Surely He had abandoned me to wallow in my own sin, right?

Oh how wrong I was back then. I called myself unredeemable. The enemy whispered “unworthy.” I lived under the banner “Abandoned.” How could someone as wayward as I was make their way back to the King of Kings?

If only I had known and believed that His heart was for me. That He was waiting for me, not to punish me, but to give me overwhelming forgiveness and grace. That he had a new name for me – “daughter.” That He delighted in me. That He wanted to give me new life, and life more abundant than I could have ever imagined. 

Daughters, you are so delightful to the Father. He sees your pain and your mistakes. He sees why you aren’t coming to him, and He is chasing after you anyways. He loves you so much. It’s overwhelming if you accept it. Today, accept that you are his treasure. Accept that he delights in you.

Leave behind the lies of the enemy that say you are desolate, you are lost, you are hopeless.

Let His grace and mercy define who you are, let His words transform your heart, and step into new life. He is for you. He is ready with open arms to welcome you home.