Often our inadequacies stare us right in the face.
Wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, employee, church member…the list is long. We have many roles to fill, many things we’re expected to do, to schedule, to handle.
And no matter how well we keep all the balls up in the air, at some point, one’s going to drop. And we can so easily get down on ourselves because we’ve failed again.
If you’re like me, you might jump to the assumption that I’m not loved because I’ve messed up.
Yes, I tell myself, I have to perform in order to be worthy of love. It’s important that I get it all right.
But that’s now how it works, at least not in God’s economy.
Because God loves us whether or not we spent thirty minutes reading our Bible this morning. His love isn’t based on our not missing a church service for the past three years. And He loves us even when we worry first and trust Him second.
Because if God’s love was based on our performance, it wouldn’t be love.
Does God want us to read our Bibles and go to church and totally trust Him? Yes, because He knows it will help us grow in our faith and ultimately be a better, Spirit-filled person.
But He loves us whether or not we do those things.
I had a conversation about this with my husband recently. Since our talk, I’ve written the following in my journal each morning.
I am loved because God loves me.
End of sentence. No if’s, and’s, or but’s.
What did I do to deserve that love? Nothing. What can I do that will cause Him to love me more? Nothing. What will make Him love me less? Nothing.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ~1 John 4:10
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” ~Ephesians 2:4-5
I’m not enough. You’re not enough. The woman at church with the perfect hair and adoring husband and obedient children – she’s not enough, either.
No matter how many good deeds we do or how often we pray or the sum of money we give, we will never be enough.
But we don’t have to be enough to be loved by God.
I just am. You just are.
Loved by God.
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This is awfully reassuring, isn’t it?! Thanks for the reminder!
Yes, I need to be reminded of this often myself!
Blessed assurance!!!
I remember hearing ages ago: “God will never love you any more than He does right now.” Putting it that way & reiterating like you have here initially blew my mind back then!
It’s such a wonderful and simple truth – God loves me – yet I need to remind myself of it often. Helps me keep everything in the right perspective!
Feeling like I have failed as a mother and wife yet still feel exhausted. Its nice to be reminded that he still loves me and hasn’t given up on me.
Oh, friend, how often I need to be reminded that it’s when I see all my own weaknesses that He can step in and give me strength. Those feelings of failure are common to all of us – it’s why we so need His grace every day. Praying for you right now, that you will find comfort and guidance in your journey!