Why "Beloved"?
- Mar 19, 2016
- 5 min read
"…it’s God saying ‘this is your permanent and unshakable identification-
Your character, your personality, your status, your worth. You are my beloved.'”
The word “beloved,” in the context of description or recognition of a human being, is beyond compelling to me. To call someone “beloved” has so much of an impact rather than simply calling someone “loved.” Synonyms for beloved are precious, adored, and treasured. The baffling aspect of it all is that MY God is defining my very existence as this. What could simply be seen as a seven letter word, to me, holds so much weight and meaning. It's so perplexing to picture and ponder the idea that the Creator of the world is labeling me as His Beloved child.
The three words “I love you” hold substance, especially when spoken from a place of genuine and authentic care for another person. In the past, it has been easy for me to spiral into a place of feeling unloved and guilty for mistakes or decisions I’ve made, which has lead to grasping this candor concept seems like a distant dream. One thing that God has done in my life is entirely changed in my heart in believing and accepting His love.
I read this quote the other day that said, “God’s love is so extravagant and inexplinable that He loved us before we were even us.” In other words, I was loved before I even took my first breath. Like....What the heck?! Who does that? I am in no way, shape, or form deserving of that kind of love- the kind that existed before I ever did, the kind that is unconditional and not circumstantial, the kind that says "I'm going to die for you because I LOVE YOU."
And you're calling me your beloved?!
It’s almost poetic in a way- to see it as love in its purest form.
It wasn't an overnight decision, accepting and believing this radical truth, but after dwelling and completely immersing myself in Jesus Christ Himself and in The Spirit, I found myself in a place of freedom. Rather than being controlled by regret, guilt, fear, bitterness, negative thoughts that were light-weight wrecking an internal processor life myself, etc... There was freedom.
Being in the place of complete and total surrender, I began changing my mindset to authentically and actively pursuing God. I found myself getting caught up in, well, myself. I want to be willing to go wherever God calls me but I... I am not capable, I am not ready, I'm this, I'm that, I CAN'T EVEN..."
My mom reminded me of a quote, “Does God call the qualified or does He qualify the called?”
“…and [she] who was not loved, I will call beloved”
Romans 9:25
This verse has meant a lot to me over the past few years because of its simple yet powerful meaning. But after studying it a little more in depth, I began to not only see the verse itself in a different way but see myself in a different way.
“...I will call beloved.” Looking at it as identification- I am beloved therefore I am called. Being called comes with the territory, it comes with being willing to go where I am called. “Here I am. Send me.” And knowing what MY God thinks of me? I feel beyond qualified….
I told myself I wouldn't get a tattoo representing this idea until
1.) I believed it and 2.) I am willing to surrender to all that it entails.
Which is why I’ve decided to permanently engrave beloved on my body.
I've been reading this book by Regina Franklin called, "Who Calls Me Beautiful?".
There's an "open letter from your dad" type thing in chapter three that I fancied-
Before the beginning of time, I knew you. I knew what color your eyes would be, and I could hear the sounds of your laughter. Like a proud father who carries a picture of his daughter in his wallet, I carried the image of you in My eyes, for you were created in my image. Before the beginning of time, I chose you. I spoke your name into the heavens, and I smiled and its melody resounded off the walls of my heart.
You are Mine. My love for you extends farther than the stars in the sky and deeper than any ocean. You are My pearl of great price, the one for whom I gave everything. I cradle you in the palm of My hand. I love you even in the face of your failure. Nothing you say or do can cause Me to stop loving you. I am relentless in My pursuit of you. Run from me- I will love you. Spurn Me- I will love you. Reject yourself- I will love you. You see, My love for you was slain before the foundations of the world and I have never regretted the sacrifice I made for you at Calvary.
When I see every part of who you are, I marvel at the work of My hands, for I whispered words of longing and desire and you came into existence. You are beautiful, and I take pleasure in you- heart, mind and body. You are My desire. When you turn your head in shame and despise what I have made, still I reach for you with gentle passion.
You are my beloved and I am yours.
{Adaptation from 1 John 3:2; Isaiah 43:1; Matthew 13:46; Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 13:8; Psalm 194:4 Song of Solomon 7:10; 6:3}
The reason I chose to share this portion of the book was because it 1. reflected the essence of why I named my blog 'Call Her Beloved and 2. it is written from God's perspective (like the song on the front page of my blog called "Out of Hiding, which is an INCREDIBLE song.) The thematic phrasing and the raw truth of what this is saying are extremely fitting and so imperative that I feel as though I couldn't have worded it better myself. And the fact that I fell right in line with why I wanted this tattoo?! One of those "God moments" where you just kind of laugh to yourself because it is so unbelievably coincidental.
But then again... I don't believe in coincidences.
This is what my Godly Father this of me... I am HIS Beloved.
As far as the logistics of the ink, I was very particular with all aspects of it.
There was no question as to who I was going to get my tattoo done by. The amazing Nate Rodoni is not only a freaking rad artist but an incredible man of God. As anyone would be, to permanently mark themselves with unremovable ink, I was at peace with the fact that I knew him personally and had no doubt he could mess it up- because just between you and I, if he did... it would probably come up in one of my dad's sermons ;).
Watch Nate's faith story!
There were many factors that played into me wanting to permanently tattoo "beloved" on my wrist. At the end of the day, it’s God saying "this is your permanent and unshakable identification- Your character, your personality, your status, your identification. You are my beloved."
When I look at this tattoo, I don't see internal brokenness, physical imperfections, my worth based on a subject or circumstance...
I see bold. I see brave. I see beloved.
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