20 November, 2017

Dear Girl-Who-Feels-Deeply

Dear girl-who-feels-deeply,

I was thinking about you last night, as I lay in bed, and I wanted you to know: it’s okay.

It’s okay to feel deeply. It’s okay to be the one who cries over the news or the state of the world or the fact that disease and aging exist. It’s okay to feel the pangs in your heart while everyone else laughs it off. It’s okay to have to lift your head from the pages to blink away the tears. It’s okay to take a moment to stare out the window because you need time to absorb what you just learned. It’s okay to feel someone else’s pain and cry in despair of your powerlessness. 

Please don’t be ashamed of the wounds this world gives. Don’t try to hide the tears, the pain. Don’t let yourself grow callous and indifferent because that’s the way others appear. Don’t brush the feelings aside in an effort to be ‘grownup.’ Don’t pretend it doesn’t hurt when it does, it doesn’t matter when it does, and it doesn’t mean anything when it does. Don’t let other’s judgements make you hard.

Know this truth: God made you to feel. He made you to feel deeply. It’s not a flaw, it’s not something you’re meant to grow out of. It’s going to hurt sometimes, but it’s going to mean you understand His heart a little more, because God feels. He feels deeply. He has a plan for your sensitivity, a plan to use it for His glory, a plan to show through you a piece of His heart.

Please, please, stay soft. Stay impressionable, stay sensitive. Let yourself feel the pain, the sorrow, the hurt, the injustice, and the love and joy and trust. You’re a deep soul, and your vulnerability will mean people misunderstand you. But don’t let it sway you. You know who you are, and this world needs more people like you.

From my heart to yours,
The girl who knows what it’s like. xx


The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.  - Elie Wiesel
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54 comments:

  1. Anna20 November 2017 at 23:02

    Tears in my eyes right now....thank you so much. <3 Sometimes we have these discussions in our bio and everyone seems to be laughing or groaning but I'm often the one with my hand over my mouth tears forming in my eyes. I'll often have to shake my head and laugh it out before I get seriously into what we're talking. Or my mom will show me news videos and I'll leave with indescribable pain and often aching emptiness inside.

    Thank you so so so much for this post Jessica, you have no idea what it means to me...thanks for sharing and being there and reaching deep down into hearts with your honesty and wisdom. God Bless you friend xxx

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 11:25

      Oh, that's me too! An ache is the perfect word for that feeling. Sometimes it seems embarrassing, but I think we need to learn to be unashamed.

      Thank you for your kind encouragement; your comments mean a lot to me. And I'm so touched this spoke to you. All praise to Him! Many blessings to you too. xx

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  2. Audrey Caylin21 November 2017 at 04:03

    Thank you so much for this, Jessica. I'm...I'm speechless, because I think I really needed to hear this. Thank you <33

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 22:08

      You're welcome: all praise to Him whom the inspiration came from. I'm so glad this could mnister to you, Audrey. Thanks for your lovely comment! xx

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  3. Madeline Joy21 November 2017 at 05:09

    Thank you for writing this post, Jessica. It's what I really needed to hear today. <3

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 22:10

      It encourages me so much to hear that - praise God! Thank you for your comment! xx

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  4. Emily 21 November 2017 at 05:21

    Whoa... this is beautiful, close to my heart, and appreciated. Thank you. xx

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 22:11

      Aw, I'm so glad it could be a blessing to you! Thank you! :) xx

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  5. Sarah Grace21 November 2017 at 06:24

    This is beautiful Jessica.. thank you <3

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 22:14

      You're so welcome, Sarah! I hope it could be an encouragement to you. xx

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  6. Lisa Elis21 November 2017 at 07:00

    Oh that is gorgeous and personally I think the deeper we feel the better it is. I /want/ to cry over the world.

    Btw HI. I'm a new follower of yours. Lovely blog you have ^-^

    Lisa
    www.thisinkwell.blogspot.com

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 22:18

      Hey Lisa! It's lovely to meet you - thanks heaps for following. I'll be checking out your blog soon! :)

      You're so right; I agree. It seems if we cannot feel pain and sorrow we miss out on knowing the depth of joy and peace. Thanks, once again, for your comment!

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  7. Vanessa21 November 2017 at 07:16

    I am getting all these feelings as I read this Jessica. This morning was a morning where I found it hard to get out of the door for reasons I don't know but to be reminded that feelings are okay is what I needed to hear. I love how God points you in the direction of what you need to hear in order to be okay. Glad to have read this.

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    1. Jessica22 November 2017 at 22:23

      Yes - God is so awesome like that! It's amazing this was something He spoke to you through - that's so encouraging to me, so thanks for sharing! It's always going to be okay with Him; keep clinging to that truth, Vanessa! You are loved. xx

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  8. Rachel21 November 2017 at 08:46

    Baby! It is so easy to want to harden. To wish you didn't feel the pain to be free from it. But you're right it's for the best.
    Many Loves,
    Rachel

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    1. Jessica23 November 2017 at 12:20

      It is - it appears to be the easy way out. But it's miraculous that God can make use of the pain, turn it into something beautiful. Thanks for your comment, person. Sending all the loves back! :)

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  9. Michaila | Seventy Times Seven21 November 2017 at 09:06

    This was...beautiful. Thank you.
    Michaila
    seventytimeseven.com

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    1. Jessica23 November 2017 at 12:22

      Aw, thank you! You're so welcome. I hope it could be an encouragement to you. :)

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  10. Erin Marie21 November 2017 at 10:26

    These are some wise words! Being vulnerable and soft-hearted is something I long to develop more and more. Reminds me of that quote in Ezekiel about God putting a new heart and spirit in us. I pray that a lot of times if I find I am growing numb or calloused. Great post! :)

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    1. Jessica23 November 2017 at 16:14

      Oh, that's an excellent verse! I never thought of applying from this perspective. Yes, it seems to go against our nature to be soft, but I think it will always be worth it. Thanks for sharing, Erin - that was encouraging to me, and I really appreciate your kind words. :)

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  11. Unknown21 November 2017 at 11:45

    Thanks Jess, I hear you. I really enjoyed our conversation this past weekend and the time we spent together x

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    1. Jessica23 November 2017 at 16:18

      Yes, it was a blessing to see you again and have some conversations, even if it wasn't for long enough! :) Thanks for listening - I hope it was an encouragement to you. xx

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  12. amelia ruth21 November 2017 at 12:02

    Gosh, this was so encouraging. I have always felt deeply, for everything. I have always gotten emotionally attached to things. Some people think it's funny, that I take things too seriously and that I need to loosen up and use a filter. But I believe that God made us feel. Thank you for this, girlie. <3

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    1. Jessica23 November 2017 at 16:25

      I'm so glad it spoke to you, Amelia. I feel you - I get attached to things too, and tend to be serious about life. I totally agree: we're created to be this way; God never intended for us to be callous and hardened. Thanks for your sweet comment - you're a blessing! :)

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  13. Faith P.21 November 2017 at 12:31

    I so relate to this, Jessica. Thank you for writing it. <3

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    1. Jessica23 November 2017 at 16:26

      You're so welcome, Faith. We're in this together. xx

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  14. Anonymous21 November 2017 at 13:58

    WOW THIS WAS SO BEAUTIFUL <3 <3 <3 thank you so much for this jessica xx

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    1. Jessica24 November 2017 at 10:47

      Aw, praise God! Thank you so much for your sweet comment. xx

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  15. Paiges Pages21 November 2017 at 14:36

    Oh wow, so relatable and beautiful!!! I am just like this, thank you for this lesson Jessica. <33

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    1. Jessica24 November 2017 at 10:53

      I'm so glad it could speak to you, Paige! God has a purpose to use these traits in you I'm sure. Thanks heaps for your comment! :)

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  16. Faith21 November 2017 at 15:35

    thank you. I wish someone had told me this when I was in high school and couldnt stop crying over others pain. I wish someone had told me it was okay.
    thank you.

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:10

      You're welcome. I'm sorry you had to struggle without knowing you weren't alone, you weren't being weak. Thanks for your comment, Faith. Stay strong! It's still okay. xx

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  17. Elissa Weisz22 November 2017 at 04:38

    WOah woah woah friend.
    thank you <3 <3

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:13

      You're too kind! Thank you; I'm blessed to be a blessing. xx

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  18. LaKaysha22 November 2017 at 05:00

    Ooooooooh..... *tears*
    Thank you!

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:18

      Sorry for the tears. :'( I hope it could be an encouragement to you. Thanks for your comment!

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  19. Jessica22 November 2017 at 10:59

    Thanks. I hope it was a blessing to you. xx

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  20. Victoria Jackson22 November 2017 at 22:42

    Oh my goodness I think I've found my new favourite post <3 This is absolutely beautiful Jessica, thank you so much for writing it.

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:20

      Aw, thanks Victoria! That means a lot to me. All glory to God; I'm glad it could speak to you. xx

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  21. Jem Jones23 November 2017 at 11:20

    Sometimes I don't want to look at the world. Because it's overwhelming and dark and so many people are in pain. Thank you for the reminder that having a soft heart isn't being weak, and that love will cause pain and require strength but is still. worth it.
    - Jem Jones

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:25

      Yes, it's easier to stay ignorant sometimes; I know what you mean. Amen: love is always worth it. Thanks for reinforcing in my mind too! xx

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  22. Evangeline23 November 2017 at 16:40

    Oh how I needed this today

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:26

      Aw, praise God! It's amazing to see His timing! xx

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  23. A Wildflower in a World of Weeds27 November 2017 at 09:10

    this is so so beautiful sister!! your words touch me! just wow thank you for this!! <3

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:29

      I'm so blessed by your sweet comment! All glory to God for what this could mean to you. Thank you so much for your comment. xx

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  24. autumn28 November 2017 at 03:42

    i love this, jessica <3 i'm that girl, yeah. sometimes there's just so much to take in. but you're right; God's good. really good. He made us to feel. that's precious x

    your words always inspire me, girl!

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 12:43

      He is; all the time. It was amazing to me to realize even these feelings link us to Him; we feel because He feels.

      Praise God. Your reflections do the same for me. Thanks for your lovely comment. <3

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  25. Georgie Grace28 November 2017 at 13:04

    This is so beautiful; I feel like more people need to read it. You've made your words reflect your heart, and what a joy to read! Keep doing what you're doing!! (and I've just discovered your blog, so now I'll have to explore some more ☺)
    Blessings & Love,
    Georgie Grace

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 14:13

      Hey Georgie! Thanks for your kind encouragement! Praise God - anything good you read here is all Him. :) Thanks again for your comment! xx

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  26. Ambrielle S30 November 2017 at 02:56

    It's okay to feel,for God feels... yes, "Jesus wept". As someone who is often more pained at watching others go through something and not being able yo help then I am when I myself am hurting, thank you for this <3. I wrote the opposite of this one time... it was a letter to the friend I wish I could "protect", rather than to the one who wants to carry the world on their shoulders... I never posted it, but I thought of it when I read this. I really loved this post though, Jessica!
    Blessings in Christ,
    Bri from forget-not-his-benefits.blogspot.com

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    1. Jessica4 December 2017 at 14:19

      Wow, that verse is perfect for this topic. Thanks for mentioning it! Yes, it's the powerlessness that pains me the most too. It's hard!

      That's another perspective! I'd be interested to read your thoughts if you ever decide to post it. :) Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Bri. I appreciate it. Blessings to you too!

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    2. Unknown9 December 2017 at 08:59

      Thanks Jessica! If I can bring myself to post it sometime, I'll be sure to let you know <3.

      Delete
  27. Caroline Meek5 January 2018 at 06:40

    Oh wow I just found your blog through Jem Jones and it's one of those things where you stop and you're like, 'woah hey look there's something that looks like my soul.'

    Thanks for this, it's gorgeous and true and it made me feel things <3 :)

    ~Caroline @ carolinemeek.blogspot.com <3

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    1. Jessica5 January 2018 at 08:59

      Aw, you're so kind! Welcome, and I'm so glad this could speak to you! Praise God. :) Thanks for your lovely comment. xx

      Delete

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