The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those who were bowed down; the Lord loves the just. // Psalm 146:8
I walked through the hall of lockers, clutching a class schedule, unsure of where the science building was located. Shaking my head, I laughed at the feeling of déjà vu overcoming me. It had been decades since I walked the halls of my own high school campus. On this day, I was following the schedule of my freshman son and meeting his teachers.
When I was in school, I would look for the farthest seat in the back of class, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I feared saying something wrong or looking ridiculous. This is normal teenage behavior, but what if you never grow out of that awkward stage? As an adult woman, I still found myself hiding in the back of the room and being afraid to speak up and show my true self.
Slowly, God was working on my heart and my self-destructive attitude. At a Blessed is She retreat years back, I shared my struggles with a priest during the Sacrament of Confession. He challenged me to not be afraid of the woman God created me to be and reminded me that God had “called me by name” (Isaiah 43:1).
It was a moment of grace within me. Psalm 146 rang true: “The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down” (Psalm 146:8) because the blinders on my heart were falling, and I lifted my bowed shoulders as a weight was removed.
When I returned to the retreat to hear the next talk, instead of hiding in the back row, I sat unafraid in the front row closest to Our Lord in the tabernacle.
Is there something stopping you from drawing closer to Our Lord? Is there negative talk in your head, shame in your heart, or wounds that make you feel unworthy of His love? Now is the time to let Our Lord release those chains so you can fully embrace Him. Ask Him to heal your heart and open your eyes to see your worth and value. Neither of us needs to hide in fear anymore.
Bobbi Rol is a wife and mama living on the Monterey Bay in California with her husband, daughter (also a Blessed Is She writer), and three teen boys. When she is not driving her kids to school, practices, and games, she can be found by the ocean, catching a late night movie, or decorating her planner. She was a contributing author to And Hay Became Holy and our children’s devotional prayer book, Rise Up. Find out more about her at revolutionoflove.com.
Be a Woman of the Word
