Learning to Call Ourselves Beloved

The length of time I was taking to reply became awkward, and I was glad that the guy on the other end of the phone couldn’t see my face flushed with heat. 

“Beloved,” I said, squirming as I responded to the request for my password. 

I could hear his grin as he replied, “I’m sure you are.”

I created that now-too-simple password to remind myself of the truth I wanted to embrace—that I was God’s beloved. I knew in my head that God had created me and loved me, but living out that reality in my daily activities required more effort. Too easily I’d descend into negative self-talk, beating myself up for saying the wrong thing or for feeling awkward at a party or for my fleshy body that I disliked. The simple act of writing “beloved” when I logged into my CompuServe account reminded me of who I was—or Whose I was. 

As a new Christian, a key way for me to accept my identity as God’s beloved was through reading the Bible. Delving into God’s Word became an intimate activity as I heard His whispers of love each day. As I share in the introduction to 7 Ways to Pray, I read Isaiah 43:1–3 and reveled in the words, adapting them as if God were speaking them to me: “Don’t be afraid, Amy, for I’ve saved you. You’re passing through the waters, but don’t be afraid, for I am with you. The rivers won’t sweep over you, for I am the Lord your God.” When I reached verse 4, I marveled at the amazing promise of God: “You’re precious and honored in my sight. And I love you.” I wondered if it could really be true—that God loved me. Seeing the words there printed in my Bible, I told myself it must be.

I read other parts of the Bible in a new light as well, such as the gospels, asking God to show me through the life of Jesus how much God loves His people. Again the practice of personalizing Scripture spoke to my heart as I wrote out the words of Jesus as if He were speaking them to me: “Amy, my peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Amy, do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid” (adapted from John 14:27). I knew I was ignoring the original context of the gospel— stories, but I found the practice helpful for shifting the truths that had been residing mainly in my head down that long journey for them to take residence in my heart.   

As I gained confidence in the truth of God’s love that I was reading prayerfully in the Bible, I started to trust God more in my daily life. For instance, I asked him to help me worry less about what other people thought of me and to reduce my fear of making social gaffs. The first time I walked into the room for the young adults group at church, I could feel my heart pounding as I looked around at the groups of twos and threes chatting. Soon, however, someone introduced herself to me, and me to some of her friends, and I began to relax. Over a period of months, through prayer and reading the Bible devotionally, I started to understand in a deeper way God’s love for me. I felt this love fleshed out as I trusted Him for courage in social situations and through the encouragement I found as I made friends. 

The truth of being loved by God impacted how I read the beginning of the Bible too. Through the familiar creation account I could now hear the truth that God made people in His image: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27 NIV). As I weighed these words, I applied them to myself—I was made in God’s image. God, the Source of life, formed people out of dust and made us in His image because His nature is love. More and more, knowing that God created me out of His love gave me a deep sense of security and identity.

Do you need reminding of this precious identity: that you’re made in God’s image and that He loves you? I don’t recommend using “beloved” as a password for your online accounts, but you can find other ways to let this truth sink deeply into your being. For example, I have a picture a friend made me hanging over my desk with this word standing out over a swirl of colors. Or you could decide that every time you wash your hands in a day, you’ll remind yourself that you’re God’s child and that He loves you. Or perhaps you might affirm someone else in their identity, writing a note to a loved one or an acquaintance, sharing what godly qualities you see in them. 

You’re God’s beloved. I hope you hear His whispers of love today.

—Written by Amy Boucher Pye. Used by permission from the author. Click here to connect with Amy.