Devotionals for the Heart: Finding your value in how God sees you

You are His Beloved
A devotional by Dr. Jessica B. Turner

“And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” –Mark 1:10-11 (ESV)

Many are familiar with the Scripture above (Mark 1:10-11) because it paints such a beautiful picture of John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. It was by John’s hands that Jesus Christ himself was baptized by water in the Jordan River. While such an event is paramount, it’s what happens immediately after that has always stood out to me.

Before Jesus performs any miracles or preaches any sermons, God makes it clear how much He loves His son, Jesus Christ, simply because He is His son. But He doesn’t stop there. God goes on to declare how proud He is of His son.

For as long as I can remember, I have found my value in my doing. The better my grades were, the more deserving I was of praise. The more involved I was in extra-curricular activities, the more respected I was amongst peers. As I got older, the actions simply shifted to reflect different roles such as veterinarian, wife, and mother. Yet, the bottom line was always the same: If I am not doing enough, I am not enough. And if I’m not enough, I am not loved.

So, when I first read God’s words to His son before Jesus ever did anything, I was blown away! It challenged everything I had ever believed regarding my value. Instead of my worth being found in what I could do, maybe it was found in who I was.

While this new revelation was freeing, it took time for me to reprogram what I had deemed true my entire life. It wasn’t until I fully grasped my identity as a daughter of the Most-High God that change really took place. Suddenly God’s words spoken over Jesus Christ (“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”) became words spoken over my life.

I am God’s beloved daughter; with me He is well pleased! Not because of my doing but because I am His!

Now, when I am faced with days where I feel I am not enough, I remind myself that I am His beloved and that is all I need because His love endures forever. I hope you find comfort in knowing that you are His beloved as well!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that you gave Your one and only Son as a sacrifice for my sins. Please help me to see Your love as the precious gift it is. For it is through Your love that I am declared Your child. Help me to stand firm in my identity as a child of God knowing that my worth lies not in my doing but in who I am in You. I love You and I trust You. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Who I Am (Official Lyric Video)” by Ben Fuller. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Dr. Jessica B. Turner is a wife, mom, and LSU graduate with a degree in veterinary medicine.

After practicing small animal medicine for six years, she traded in her stethoscope to become an online wellness coach, motivational speaker, and writer with a passion for mental health advocacy. This major life change was sparked after Jessica struggled with postpartum depression soon after she birthed her twin girls.

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward in past trauma that she had suppressed for decades. Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other.

God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting form of storytelling.

Throughout this process of refinement, Jessica has shared her life story with the world through her social media platforms, in-person events, blog posts, and podcasts. She values the gift of transparency and has discovered that what so many people need to know is that they are not alone. Jessica has walked in their shoes, and she wants the world to know that Jesus is walking with them as well.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: www.jessicabturner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabturner/