Live Convinced

Living convinced has been a thing to me since I was about 18. What started off as being a witty response to someone asking me if I was conceited turned into something so much more.

I clearly remember the day when an old college classmate seen me walking by, head held high and back straight. She was whispering to her friends but I could clearly hear her saying, “…look at that girl that walks straight up, she must be conceited.” She then proceeded to call out to me, “Hey girl! You’re conceited aren’t you?!” Without hesitation I responded, “I’m not conceited, I’m convinced!” And I continued on my way, leaving the group of girls with puzzled faces. I too was puzzled by my response and how quickly it rolled off my tongue.

This wasn’t the first time I’d been called conceited because of how I looked or walked. My better than average posture was due to having done ballet since I was 8. Despite appearing confident I was probably the most self conscious person at that time in my life. I had poor self esteem, I always questioned myself, and I always felt like I didn’t quite fit in. I’m also typically the type of person that seems to come up with all the clever responses well after the conversation is over. I thought about being convinced the rest of the day. What did that mean? Where did that response come from? I looked up the definition, and seen that according to Webster’s convinced means to be completely certain of something, or to be firm in one’s belief, especially with regard to a particular issue. The definition was laughable, that wasn’t me but I so desperately wanted it to be.

Later on God began to deal with me on the issue. Psalms 139:13-14 was put on my heart.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalms 139:13-14 NIV

I thought ok God, you took your time on me and thought about each piece. Then I was led to Genesis 1:26.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

Genesis 1:26 NIV‬‬

That’s when it began to sink in, God created me in His image. He created all of us in His image. There was no reason to feel self conscious or self doubt when The Creator created me to be just like Him. I could rest in the fact that God took his time on me and made me to reflect Him.

Now I’m not going to lie, all of my self worth issues did not melt away, I just had a renewed sense of purpose. I could work to be completely certain of who I am and who I am in God, a Convinced Image. To me that meant I could be delivered from these issues I faced. Doubt and anxiety didn’t have to be my masters. I could live a life where I was certain of who I was because I was looking to God to mend the broken pieces and to tell me who I am.

This has been and is an ongoing journey, and I choose daily to live my life convinced. There have been bumps and bruises along the way and plenty of my own mistakes, but God is faithful and has always put the right people and resources in my way to get me to where I needed to be.

You too can choose to live convinced and experience God and life to the fullest. First you have to be saved (click here if you’re interested in giving your life to God). Now you’re eligible to receive all of the benefits of the Kingdom of God. Next you have to make the conscious commitment to being your best self everyday. Lastly you have to trust the process. I’d be lying if I told you that the process is all rainbows and sunshine. Personally I’ve had to continuously work on my self esteem and self worth, deal with fear and anxiety, and deal with baggage from abuse, among other things. Essentially God will make you deal with your crap. But in dealing with your crap there is healing there. I promise living convinced and choosing God is so worth it!

Until next time live convinced!