A spirit of calm contentment always accompanies true godliness. The deep peace that comes from deep trust in God’s lovingkindness is not destroyed even by the worst of circumstances, for those Everlasting Arms are still cradling us, we are always “under the Mercy.” … It isn’t troubles that make saints, but their response to troubles. Even miracles can’t make us holy. … Everything about which we are tempted to complain may be the very instrument whereby the Potter tends to shape His clay into the image of His Son—a headache, an insult, a long line at the check-out, someone’s rudeness or failure to say thank you, misunderstanding, disappointment, interruption. As Amy Carmichael said, “See in it a chance to die,” meaning a chance to leave self behind and say YES to the will of God, to be “conformable unto His death.” Not a morbid martyr-complex but a peaceful and happy contentment in the assurance that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Wouldn’t our children learn godliness if they saw the example of contentment instead of complaint? acceptance instead of rebellion? peace instead of frustration?

May our prayers be the spirit of the seventeen-year-old Lady Jane Grey, who prays this prayer in her prison cell before she was beheaded in 1554:

O merciful God, be Thou unto me

A strong Tower of defence,

I humbly entreat Thee.

Give me grace to await thy leisure,

Ad patiently to bear

What Thou doest unto me;

Nothing doubting or mistrusting

Thy goodness towards me;

For Thou knowest what is good for me

Better than I do.

Therefore do with me in all things

What Thou wilt;

Only arm me, I beseech Thee,

With Thine armor,

That I may stand fast;

Above all things taking to me

The shield of faith;

Praying always that I may

Refer myself wholly to Thy will,

Abiding Thy pleasure, and comforting myself

In those troubles which it shall please Thee

To send me, seeing such troubles are

Profitable for me; and I am

Assuredly persuaded that all Thou doest

Cannot but be well; and unto Thee

Be all honor and glory. Amen.

~Elisabeth Elliot, in Keep A Quiet Heart

So what.

I’ve had enough of looking to others and relying on their actions toward me to feel validation. I find I do it far too much. But I am me, and only me, and all of me—beauty and imperfection, strength and weakness. When it comes to who I am, others don’t matter in the least.

For in love, there are no comparisons. There are in fact no others. There is simply one small person in the sight of God. And though she is fractured and futile, a pitcher that holds no water, He sees her as whole. A pitcher that holds the Spirit. Because of the unasked and undeserved gift of One who is pure, where she was drowning in her own brokenness, she is now drowning in Grace unending.

That’s it.