In light of God's deep affection, we no longer have to live in fear of rejection. The

How we spend our souls matter...We have to desire to become fearless with these moments [of decision]. Fight through the doubt and discouragement and awkwardness of new. (32)

When the lies of the enemy — fear, doubt, anxiety, unbelief, discouragement — rush in, we must immediately take those thoughts captive. Captive to the Truth of God's Word. The Truth of who we are as children of the One True God.  

No, that relationship didn't work out. But that doesn't mean you'll never find love. It also doesn't mean you aren't capable, likable, and lovely.

Ps 23:1...So, if the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not become empty. I shall not live in a constant state of disappointment where circumstances drain me dry... How do I let the Lord shepherd me so the gap between my expectations and reality closes? (p. 115-6)

Instead of letting the feelings from this situation label me, I'm going to focus on God and His promises for good things.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. —[PHILIPPIANS 4:13]

I didn't want to open up myself to yet another possible complicated disappointment. I reasoned, Walk away early so you don't have to suffer the pain of them falling away later. Some call that protecting yourself. But I knew in my case it was called letting past hurts hurt me all over again.

We must invite God into our pain to help us survive the desperate in-between.

But pulling away only makes things worse. God says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). All my heart includes the parts that are broken. Bring it all to God.

If I want His promises, I have to trust His process. I have to trust that first comes the dust, and then comes the making of something even better with us. God isn't ever going to forsake you, but He will go to great lengths to remake you. What if disappointment is really the exact appointment your soul needs to radically encounter God?

Girls who have the lingering whispers of rejection still echoing in the hollows of their soul rarely feel completely held safe. So