Friend, You Are Validated

by | Oct 22, 2015 | 31 Days Celebrating Who You Are

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.

You are validatedCheck 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.

Psalm 37 5-6

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.)

31 Days Celebrating Who You Are

Previous Post
Next Post

Looking for more?

Enter your email to instantly access my FREE RESOURCES - exclusively for my readers!

Your information is safe with me and will never be shared.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Related posts

Thanks for stopping by.

I’d love to hear from you!

16 Comments

  1. Kelly Johnson

    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!

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      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!

      Reply
  2. Crystal Hornback

    “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

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      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!

      Reply
  3. Kristi Woods

    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

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      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!

      Reply
  4. Suzie Eller

    Julie, we are validated and our endless search for it can stop when we know where to look. Thank you for pointing the way.

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      Thank you, Suzie. This #livefree community is wonderful. Thanks for hosting us!

      Reply
  5. Sarah Koontz

    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!

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      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.

      Reply
  6. Mary Geisen

    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.

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      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!

      Reply
  7. Cindy

    “Striving can cease” What a lovely and freeing thought! Thank you for a wisdom filled post!

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      Hi Cindy! I agree… it is a lovely and freeing thought! Thank you for being here!

      Reply
  8. Tara

    You, my friend, are a gift; valued and validated.

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. 31 Days Celebrating Who You Are - Julie Lefebure - […] Day 22 – Friend, You Are Validated […]

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Just for you!

Real encouragement, updates, and free resources from me. 

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Julie Lefebure
You are validated
Psalm 37 5-6
31 Days Celebrating Who You Are
I'm grateful for this truth today, aren't you?

Take the pressure off of yourself and rest in the One who is in control. 

This is a key to abundant life. 

#abundantlife #Godisincontrol #restinGod #lifehack #relax #reallife
Is life feeling out of control right now?

Sometimes, it's helpful to step back and remember we aren't the ones who are responsible for keeping everything in control.

God is.

Here's a simple prayer to pray to release it all into God's capable hands.

Step into the abundant life God has for you. I can help you do that.

#abundantlife #simpleprayer #prayer #Godisincontrol #life #lifehack #lifestruggles
Are you a woman after God's heart?

God considered King David a man after His own heart, even with David's flaws, sins, and mistakes.

This shows us that having a heart for God doesn't mean we need to be perfect. That's good, because we can't be. 

Find out if you have a heart for God in episode 184 of the Encouragement for Real Life Podcast. 

#encouragement #heartforGod #lifehack #abundantlife #podcast #reallife #imperfect
I'm here for this trend of having coffee with our younger selves. ☕️

Sometimes, it's healing and encouraging to look back and see how far God has brought you and matured you. It's good to remember, though, that He's not done with you yet. 🙌

If you met your younger self for coffee, how would it go? What would you say? What would she say? 

#coffeewithmyyoungerself #trend #Godsnotdonewithyou #youngerself #healing #hope #growth
Are you eager to see progress and results in your situation, but it appears as if nothing is happening?

Sometimes, that's the hardest place to be in... in the waiting.

Friend, don't give up just yet. 

Trust God is working behind the scenes for your growth, for the good of others, and for His glory. Hang on. The breakthrough is coming soon.

#hangon #waiting #encouragement #Godisworking #trustGod #abundantlife
Do you have a heart for God? How do you know?

In episode 184 of the Encouragement for Real Life Podcast, we discuss this and ways to grow our relationship with Him. It's the single most important thing we can do in our days.

Listen in to be encouraged and inspired in your abundant life today.

I'm @julielefebure, and I'm here to help you live the abundant life you are designed to live. 

#abundantlife #podcast #encouragementforreallifepodcast #newepisode #heartforGod #lifehack
Want to know my secret to having an uplifting and abundant day all day long?

I start here first. 

With my Bible, my study, prayer, and Jesus.

Beginning my day this way makes an impact on the rest of the day. It's beyond what I can describe in words. Try it and experience it for yourself. There's nothing like it.

How do you typically begin your day?

#starthere #abundantlife #encouragement #beginyourday #thismatters #lifehack #mysecret
When you begin the week by meeting up in person with two of your online Monday morning prayer group, your heart is full and your week is already made.

I appreciate these friends of mine and their authentic friendship. 

#friendship #coffee #coffeewithfriends #prayergroup #friendsforlife
Share This