Sometimes I hear people say, “I’m God’s favorite!”

I don’t think they really believe that God loves them more than everybody else, but maybe they feel particularly blessed or loved because something great happened to them.

Regardless, this “I’m God’s favorite” statement rubs me the wrong way. Images of biblical Joseph flash in my mind. He was thrown into a pit by angry, jealous brothers who wanted to kill him because he was Daddy’s favorite and had a colorful coat to prove it—not to mention the dreams he boasted about of his brothers bowing to him.

Life is not going to be fair, we need to settle that in our hearts, but unfairness does not mean we are loved less.

Sometimes we have really good days, where we feel on top of the world and it’s easy to declare, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!” But do we still proclaim it when we lose our job, don’t get chosen, or receive a difficult medical diagnosis?

As I chaperoned a school field trip, a friend quietly confided in me, “I know God loves me, but I’ve never felt like His favorite.”

I knew what she meant. She put words to what my heart had felt before.

Jesus loves me this I know, but I spent years of toil, trying to earn His love and the approval of others.

I wanted to be the favorite, to be special, to be delighted in—to be loved so much that I wouldn’t get rejected, left, or passed over.

But as I mentioned the other day, Jesus has given me a newfound freedom, that I’m still wrapping my head and heart around.

I am already loved and already chosen because of Jesus. I don’t have to keep striving and driving to earn that which is mine, in Christ.

And you know what? Jesus doesn’t play favorites. In Him, we are all loved more than we can fathom. He can’t love us more or less than He already does.

Whether you get the job or you don’t, whether you are selected or not, whether you are healthy or sick…Jesus proved His love for you on the cross. His affections for you drove Him to suffer and die for your sins, and then He rose from the dead, so that you could live—restored, set free, and unified with the Father.

Sometimes when I scroll through social media feeds, I get caught up in comparison and jealousy. But I really lose it when I doubt Jesus’ love because others have something that I don’t. When this happens, I’ve crossed the line from dealing with natural human tendencies (of envy) to doubting the Word of God (and thinking I’m unloved or that others are “favorites”).

Listen up dear sister, Jesus’ love for us doesn’t shift or stop. His love has been settled, once and for all, on the cross and this fact should settle us down and settle us into a peace that doesn’t end.

We can celebrate with one another because we know that we are already loved.

We can be honest with God about the jealousy we feel because He’s not shocked by our struggles.

We can share both hurts and happy news because we are chosen in Christ; there is no favoritism.

Our stories will be different, the timing of our answered prayers will vary, but rest assured we are favored and loved by Jesus.

I’m not His favorite and neither are you but we are loved and treasured, seen and delighted in, by the King, so much more than we can even dream.

He has settled our insecurities. He has overcome our weakness. He has proven His love on the cross.

May our circumstances not derail our devotion to Christ. May our difficulties not destroy our faith in the Good Father. May our good news not be elevated above the greatness of our Savior. May our breakthroughs be credited to the Holy Spirit and not our own know-how. Sure, we have a part to play in this whole faith deal, but ours is one of response to what has already been done on our behalf.

May Jesus be our favorite. May we elevate Him above all else. May we worship Him alone.

As you probably know, I turned the big 4-0 last week. I had a fantastic birthday and Adam orchestrated quite the Surprise Party too! Well, as promised, I have a surprise of my own to share.

The day before my birthday, I had a phone meeting with a literary agent, and I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I signed with Blythe Daniel of The Blythe Daniel Agency. I am delighted to be represented by Blythe as I seek publication.

It’s been quite a journey to this point, but as my friends, Wendy and Kelli, say so eloquently in their upcoming book, Life Creative, “…when the time is right for you to share your gifts with the world, venture out in confidence and testify with boldness and beauty.”

Now, it’s time to get to work on my book proposals so they’re in great shape for publishers’ consideration.

I’m also delighted to announce that Malinda P. won the Krafty Kash necklace giveaway! Congratulations Malinda! Thank you to everyone who entered. As a special gift for all my readers, you can get 10% off a Krafty Kash jewelry purchase, using code: katiemreid. Just enter the code at checkout.

P.S. Linking up with Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup. Join us as we spread encouragement near and far.

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