Secure in His Love

There are some conversations that stay with me long after the microphone is turned off, and my conversation with Lessa Petrini is one of them. Her story is deeply personal, yet it reflects something so many of us experience: the struggle to find our worth when life changes, expectations crumble, and we no longer recognize ourselves.

Lessa shared what it looked like to leave behind a life she loved, walk through seasons of loss and uncertainty, and ultimately discover something far more secure than external success or approval. She found her identity anchored in the unchanging love of Jesus Christ. Her journey is a powerful reminder that our value has never been tied to our performance—it has always been rooted in Him.

In this episode:

• How unexpected life transitions can challenge our sense of identity and belonging

• Why striving harder doesn't always lead to healing or peace

• The transformative power of resting in God's love

• How setting healthy boundaries reflects an understanding of divine worth

• Why true joy is found in Christ, regardless of our circumstances

Lessa's journey began when she felt called to leave behind a life she deeply loved. She had built a community, found fulfillment, and felt settled in a season that seemed ideal. Moving was the last thing she wanted.

I think many of us can relate to that resistance. When life feels good, we naturally want to hold onto it. But sometimes God lovingly invites us into unfamiliar places—not to take away our joy, but to deepen it.

What surprised Lessa most was that the move itself wasn't the hardest part. The real challenge came afterward.

She found herself trying to recreate the life she had left behind, hoping that if she worked hard enough, served faithfully enough, or did all the right things, she could rebuild the same sense of fulfillment. Instead, everything felt harder. The things that once came naturally now seemed filled with resistance.

How often do we do the same? We cling to old formulas, believing that if we just try harder, we'll feel whole again.

As Lessa navigated new responsibilities, loneliness, and family challenges, she began to feel like she was failing. Rumors and misunderstandings only deepened that pain, causing her to question who she was.

So many women know this feeling well. We begin to measure our worth by what we accomplish, how well we serve, or how others perceive us. When those things feel shaky, our identity can feel shaky too.

At her lowest point, Lessa felt a clear prompting from the Lord: rest.

Not strive harder. Not prove herself. Not fix everything.

Just rest.

For a season, she did only the bare essentials. And in that stillness, something remarkable happened. She discovered that God's love was not dependent on her productivity, her service, or her ability to keep everything together.

One Christmas, as Lessa prayed about what gift she could offer the Savior, the answer came clearly: sit every day and feel My love for you.

What a beautiful invitation.

In a season when she felt she had little to offer, she experienced the overwhelming truth that she was already fully loved. Not because of what she could do, but simply because of who she was—a beloved daughter of God.

Once Lessa truly felt God's love, her perspective began to shift.

She started setting healthy boundaries. She recognized that while other people's opinions mattered, they did not define her. She no longer needed to place herself in situations that undermined her peace or distorted her sense of self.

Understanding our divine worth gives us permission to protect what God has entrusted to us—our hearts, our time, and our peace.

One of my favorite parts of Lessa's story is how the Lord strengthened her when her own confidence was gone.

In a new calling that felt overwhelming, she sensed the Lord saying, "You can do this." When she couldn't believe in herself, He lent her His confidence until she could rebuild her own.

Isn't that exactly what grace does? It carries us until we are strong enough to stand.

As part of her healing, Lessa felt prompted to reconnect with the things that brought her joy. She returned to activities and pursuits that reminded her who she was, including going back to school to pursue her master's degree.

Sometimes healing involves rediscovering the gifts, passions, and desires God placed within us. Those gifts are not accidental. They are part of how He helps us remember who we are.

A powerful part of Lessa's journey was learning to follow promptings, even when they didn't make sense.

There were times when God gave clear direction, and other times when He invited her to move forward without detailed instructions. In those moments, she learned that faith is not always about receiving the full roadmap. Sometimes it's about trusting that God will guide our steps as we walk.

He is not simply trying to make us obedient. He is helping us become.

Perhaps the greatest lesson from our conversation is this: joy is not the absence of hardship.

True joy comes from knowing who we are, whose we are, and that we are deeply loved by our Heavenly Father. It comes from living in alignment with Him, repenting when needed, and trusting His love through every season.

As President Russell M. Nelson taught, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

When our focus is on Jesus Christ, we can experience joy even in the midst of uncertainty, grief, and unanswered questions.

If you are struggling to feel your worth right now, I want to echo Lessa's invitation: ask Heavenly Father how He feels about you.

Ask more than once. Ask until you feel it.

Then allow yourself to receive the answer.

His love for you is not earned. It is not fragile. It does not disappear when you are weary, uncertain, or broken.

It is constant, unwavering, and secure.

And when you truly know that, everything changes.