"People tolerate me but nobody actually enjoys my company anymore."
How it sounds in your head: I see the polite smiles. They're kind but not engaged. Nobody lights up when I enter the room. I'm just the old woman they're nice to.
"You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married."
-- Isaiah 62:4Enemy's lie that age diminishes worth and desirability in relationships.
Conversations feel one-sided, people seem distracted, awareness of not being central to anyone's life anymore.
84 years old, widow for decades, spent years in the temple serving. God chose HER to recognize baby Jesus when religious leaders missed Him—honored, highlighted, given the privilege of proclaiming Messiah in her final years.
I REFUSE the lie that people merely tolerate me without enjoyment. IT IS WRITTEN that the LORD calls me Hephzibah—His DELIGHT is in me. I bring JOY to the heart of God. He doesn't endure me, He ENJOYS me, DELIGHTS in me, CELEBRATES me. IT IS WRITTEN in Psalm 18:19 that He delivered me because He DELIGHTED in me. I am WANTED, ENJOYED, TREASURED. The BARAK blessing makes me blessed in others' eyes—I carry favor, I bring life, people are DRAWN to me by the Spirit of the living God within me.
Father is whispering to every person who enters your room: 'You're standing on holy ground—she's My beloved, My delight.' They feel His pleasure over you even when they don't understand why you matter so much.