"You are just too sensitive."

If anyone has ever said those words to you, a million times or one time, this article is for you.

My entire life I have had those words muttered to me, on many occasions. Sometimes it is said in a negative light, some even in an attempt to be positive, but all scream the same thing- they just don't understand the heart that God has given me.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

Did you get that? He looks at the heart.

I think way too often we see people, interact with people, and if something happens and you're affected by it, you're automatically sensitive. You need tougher skin. You shouldn't be bothered by it. It isn't that big of a deal. You just want attention. You're selfish. You get hurt too much. You're too sensitive.

I think we're missing it though.

Is sensitivity a bad thing? Does getting hurt by a lot of things make you weak? My answer is no.

One time I had a friend come up to me and say she felt like God wanted her to come pray for me, so she did. As she started to pray, she literally said "God I never understood why every little thing hurt Colbie and why she is so sensitive..." and I was like HUUUUH. I trust this friend very much and I know that she loves Jesus with her whole heart but if I'm honest I was a little taken back by her initial words.

As she continued to pray, though, what she muttered through her tears next will stick with me for the rest of my life. She said "I now know, Jesus, that she just has more of your heart than I have ever seen in a person. Her heart aches for so many things because she hurts for what hurts You" and I stopped.

I stopped. I listened. I pondered. I cried.

You have so much of Jesus' heart that you hurt so bad for things that hurt Him.

Please don't miss this- I am not writing this with the intentions of giving praise to myself and the heart I have, at ALL. I am writing this to say that it is time to stop being ashamed of a God bestowed quality upon our lives.

I used to be so ashamed of the fact that I was extremely sensitive. I hated how big my heart was because it almost always left me hurt and wanted to just shut my heart off towards everyone.

BUT PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID.

Your heart is big for a reason. You don't love too hard, there is no such thing.

Understand that being "too sensitive" is a sentence that translates to "I am unable to comprehend the heart you have" and that is perfectly fine. It is not to condemn the person who said it, not everyone is meant to understand you.

Jesus understands you, and He knew that the world needed your heart and sensitivity for people.