My sixteen year old daughter, Jaelyn Elle, keeps a journal, and the following is her entry from July 21, 2016. She has given me permission to share her thoughts with you.

But God… But Child

By Jaelyn Elle Wilson

But God, I am dirty, I have sinned, I am unclean, I have forsaken you.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. ~Matthew 9:13, KJV

But child, I have made you clean. I have washed away your sins. Have I not made you clean? But I have forgiven you.

But God, I am weak and tired. I don’t have the strength to…

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong. ~II Corinthians 12:9-10, KJV

But child, when you’re weak, I am strong.

But God, I am afraid.

Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest. ~Joshua 1:9, KJV

But child, My perfect love casts out all fear.

But God, I am not good enough.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. ~Psalms 139:17-18, KJV

But child, I love you. You are made in my image. You are good enough.

But God, I’m still not sure I can make it through.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch…

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By faith Noah… By faith Abraham… Through faith also Sara… By faith Abraham… By faith Isaac… By faith Jacob… By faith Joseph…

By faith Moses… By faith he forsook Egypt… Through faith he kept the Passover… By faith they passed through the Red Sea… By faith the walls of Jericho fell down… By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not…

And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, more over of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: They wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better things for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. ~Hebrews 11:1-8; 11; 17; 20-25; 27-40, KJV

But child, simply have faith.