You Are Seen...

El ROI - Sees You 

Young Women, El Roi Sees You…

This blog is geared toward women, especially young women. As true disciples of Jesus Christ, many young women live in a tension that many people do not see. Outwardly, she may look “normal,” working, married or single, paying bills, managing relationships, and trying to build a future while inwardly fighting to remain faithful in a world constantly trying to pull her away from Christ.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ has never been about simply attending church, posting scriptures, or “being spiritual.” A disciplined disciple of Jesus Christ is someone whose life is being shaped, corrected, transformed, and led by Christ daily.

Choosing a life committed to Christ comes with constant inner warfare, negative voices, comparisons, self-promotion, image management, emotional instability disguised as empowerment, yet a committed life in Christ keeps returning to Him even while struggling and fighting that inward battle. It is a life that is not polished, not perfect, but continually returning to the One who truly knows who she is.

Not only young women, but all those who are in Christ Jesus must understand that our identity is not found in attention, status, relationships, money, or appearance; our identity is in Christ Jesus. I know that sounds beautiful in theory, but in the day-to-day reality of life, it means dying daily to the need for approval from people.

This is something I share in my book, Just Writing, about wanting to be accepted by the “popular girls” in high school and college. That struggle is hard at 17, hard at 25, hard at 30, and honestly… hard at 60 too.

Life here, as we know it, is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. We experience financial struggles, uncertainties, delayed prayers, waiting seasons, relationship disappointments, past trauma, and loneliness. Yet God uses all of it not to destroy us or harm us, but to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

Life lesson: God is often more concerned about who we are becoming than our comfort.  Beloved, when you are determined and committed to living your life for Christ, you may begin to feel “different” from family and friends. Some conversations will conflict with your spirit. Certain environments will drain you. You will begin to recognize compromise in relationships. But as you continually return to Christ, He will teach you how to love people without becoming like the world, how to stand firm without becoming judgmental or demeaning, and how to maintain purity in a culture addicted to excess and self-gratification.

This transformation process requires faith, trust, maturity, and wisdom.

And listen, I have to address this because it is so important: your private life matters.  A disciplined disciple of Jesus Christ is not measured by public appearance, but by private surrender.

What do you do when nobody sees you? What do you do in the waiting seasons when prayers seem unanswered? When temptation is strong?

When finances are tight? When is a marriage difficult and hanging in the balance? When you feel overlooked, forgotten, or unappreciated?

Do you remain?  Do you keep turning to Christ?

Are you living intentionally… or simply drifting emotionally through life?

El Roi Sees You.

Dr. Dennise Bates

'If you want something different, You have to do something different.'