I was scrolling through Pinterest one day and I stumbled upon this quote,

“I am mine. Before I am ever anyone else’s.” 

The graphic fit my aesthetic: simple quotes in neutral colors that could be used as a screensaver. I didn’t really let the words sink in and kept scrolling only to stop a few seconds later and frantically look for the quote again before my page refreshed.

Did I read that correctly? I am mine? 

This time I let it sink in. I noticed how those words made me feel uneasy, confused, a little uncomfortable. 

Why? What do these words mean to me? Through the lens of certain societal beliefs, I could see how “I am mine” might be interpreted by other women to speak into their varying circumstances, but I did not find myself in their shoes. The confusion I felt led me to scripture where I found the Word of God saying the complete opposite. 

“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

The Lord speaks clearly. You are mine. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to be told otherwise. The evil one is so SNEAKY; he slips in little, unassuming lies that divide me from the truth God speaks. “I am mine” seems like a good mantra to build one’s self esteem, but it’s a lie. I can empathize with women who might find encouragement in the lie, but that doesn’t make the words true. 

It’s possible I am reading too much into a random Pinterest quote, but I think it’s necessary to speak the truth. It is necessary to remind myself and others that the evil one is vigilant in separating us from the love of God in subtle ways. 

The fleshy and worldly parts of me want to believe that “I am mine.” It’s easier when I think I am in control. It’s easier to accept those words as encouragement. It’s easier to think that I don’t answer to anyone for my actions. It’s easier to believe the lie. 

But Jesus didn’t promise an easy life in which I am in control. He promised Himself. Jesus doesn’t want me to believe the lie that I am mine, He claims me as His own.

I am not mine, I am His! Before I belong to anyone else, I belong to God, not myself. 

Let’s pause here.

Imagine you are with the Lord in a quiet place, just the two of you. You can be out for a walk, or sitting on your dream wrap-around porch, or cozied up by a fire; a place that only the two of you will go together. In this place, let the Lord gaze upon you and claim you as His own. Let Him speak the words “you are mine” over you. Let the truth settle into your heart. 

Take as long as you need. It could get uncomfortable. It might be hard. You might come across a tender part in your heart that will resist. I encourage you to stay. I encourage you to explore why you feel uncomfortable. I encourage you to do the hard work needed to renounce the lies you believe and maybe make some changes in your life, if the Lord invites you into that. 

I encourage you to not forget that the Lord looks at you with love and says,

“You are mine. Before you are ever anyone else’s.”