I saw it at the mission where I once served, visible in all forms through the homeless and the hurting.
I see it in young children in the grocery store, vying for their preoccupied parents’ attention.
I’ve witnessed it among adult circles, teenage cliques, and at the workplace.
I’ve lived it–still do some days–and when it gets the best of me, it’s not so pretty.
We each desire to be approved, accepted, validated.
And we’ll do about anything to attain this status.
validated :: approved; confirmed; endorsed; verified
Some of us seek our acceptance and validation in burying ourselves in our work.
Some of us chase it in earning awards, receiving recognition, or achieving a certain status or goal. (This was me for years.)
Some of us pursue it from others… our parents, our spouse, our boss, friends, strangers.
Some of us look for it through the stuff we own and the money we have in the bank.
The thing is, when we seek our validation in any of these, an emptiness follows. It may feel good in the moment, but it’s only temporary.
And when the emptiness overwhelms (which it always eventually does), we continue our quest for validation. Acquiring more stuff. Voluntarily working weekends. Setting a bigger goal. Acting in attention-getting ways. Ending up in another’s arms. Doing “whatever it takes” to feel validated.
Oh, this hunt can be a daunting and dangerous one. One that can send us in million different directions, only to find we’re more empty than before.
There’s good news for us, though. Good news for you and me who desire this status.
We are already validated.
Check this out:
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31b
This precious truth was one that nearly knocked me over when I first learned it. “God is for me? Really?? He’s not upset with me? He’s not disappointed in me?” I felt I had always fallen short with God, but His Words told me differently.
He’s for you, too.
I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:38-39
My, oh my. Did you catch that?? Nothing can get between us and God’s love. Nothing.
We are already validated… approved, confirmed, endorsed, verified… by God.
Striving can cease. We can exit the hunt. Resting in His love and acceptance sounds pretty good to me right now. Emptiness will disappear, and fulfillment will take its place.
Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. Psalm 37:5-6
There’s no stamp like His stamp of approval. And you already are marked with it. That’s a beautiful truth to celebrate today. I’m glad we get to celebrate it together!
And while we’re celebrating, let’s share this truth with another. We all desire to be validated.
Much love,
Julie
It’s Day 22 of 31 Days #CelebratingWhoYouAre. Thank you so much for stopping by for a few minutes today. It means the world to me! I pray this truth encourages your heart and blesses your soul. If there’s someone you know who could benefit from this truth, by all means, pass it on. Bless you, friend! (Linking this post with Suzie Eller for #livefreeThursday.)
Beautiful post! So encouraging, wonderful reminders. I especially liked the translation of the verse from Psalm 37. Thank you for your words of truth and encouragement today…I think these are issues with which many of us struggle! Stopping by from #LiveFreeThursday. Keep writing, sister!
Kelly, you blessed me today. Thank you! I agree with you. Many of us struggle in validation. May we remember His validation is the only one that really matters… and we already have it! Thanks for stopping by. Bless you!
“There’s no stamp like His stamp of approval. And you already are marked with it.” YES & AMEN! What a beautiful truth, indeed. Oh, I love this whole post, Julie! These scriptures are spot on and so encouraging. Thank you for your beautiful words! #livefreeThursday
Thank you, Crystal! I love “re-discovering” scriptures and how seeing how they can apply to our lives! So glad you stopped by, and so glad you were encouraged. Blessings to you today!
Isn’t it funny how the need to be validated can display in so many ways? I used to think people who looked “good” on the outside, had it all together. I tried to walk that trail myself. Thank goodness for a God who reveals, heals, and bathes us with His truth. #livefreeThursday
I used to do the same thing, Kristi. Still do sometimes. Yes, thankful for God’s perfect revealing, healing, & bathing! So glad you stopped over. It’s a great day to #livefree!
Julie, we are validated and our endless search for it can stop when we know where to look. Thank you for pointing the way.
Thank you, Suzie. This #livefree community is wonderful. Thanks for hosting us!
Oh, how I’ve witnessed the same thing. People crave validation. I love your simple statement…YOU ARE VALIDATED! I will be sure to remind myself of this next time I feel those needs arising. They have already been met, I’ve just got to look in the right direction!
Hi Sarah! My new Twitter friend! Yes, just looking in the right direction. Love that! So glad you stopped over, and glad we get to walk this path of life together! Blessings.
I love your reference to Psalm 37. I have never read “stamp you with approval at high noon”. What version is this from? I understand the mind game that we as people torture ourselves with constantly. I love Romans 8:31 also for reassuring us that if God is for us, who can be against. We are who we are because of God and that is all we need. Thank you for these reminders today.
Mary, I had never read that version either, and it really spoke to me. It’s from The Message translation. Thank you for your words, “We are who we are because of God…” Amen! May we live in that validation today! Bless you, friend!
“Striving can cease” What a lovely and freeing thought! Thank you for a wisdom filled post!
Hi Cindy! I agree… it is a lovely and freeing thought! Thank you for being here!
You, my friend, are a gift; valued and validated.
Thank you, Tara. And so are you!