We are oftentimes too hard on ourselves. We’re trying to be perfect, when God already sees us as perfect. He sees Jesus when he looks at us. God sent Jesus to die for our sins so we could live with Him forever. This means that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Sometimes God’s amazing love can seem too good to be true. One might think, “I really messed up this time or I don’t measure up. How can God love me?” In moments like this, doubt begins to grow and growing doubt is fertile ground for enemy attack. Satan will do everything possible to convince God’s children they are undeserving of God’s love.

Our Father always knows what’s best for us, and sometimes He guides us to do things we don’t want to do or don’t understand. Oftentimes in hindsight we see what we cannot see in the moment, and we realize God continues to bless us with what’s best for us. Even if it’s not what we think is best. God sees the big picture, and we don’t.

Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed. Jesus knew what the following day held for Him, and He intentionally set aside time to meet with God. How much more do you and I need this time not knowing what the next day holds? While leaving the house and going to a solitary place won’t happen for most of us daily, we can find creative ways to meet with Him.

Because I am a follower of Christ and am made new, I was determined not to flounder in insecurity the rest of my life. This led me to openly seek God on these issues, and the Holy Spirit revealed that I needed to have both head and heart knowledge about the true heart of God. He showed me that I did not need to ignore, push down, dwell, or act out on these things; instead, it was important to look at these things face to face with Him.

We have a tendency to lambaste ourselves when we lack motivation. When God calls us to action, it’s my experience he doesn’t beat us into submission, he loves us into it.

I began to believe the lie that if I was imperfect I was also unlovable. Shame became my shadow, following me around, ready to strike at any sign of failure or weakness. Eventually, this mindset applied to my relationship with Jesus. God would only love me if I served Him full-time, had daily quiet times, and tried my hardest not to sin. Right? But we are lavished, or extravagantly covered, in the love of God, not because of anything we’ve done but because of everything Christ did.

It is easy to get caught up into the idea that we need to perform or work our way into God’s heart of love. I have had this idea that God loves me only when I do good things, read the Bible every day, keep a good job, or donate to charity. But clearly none of our righteous works make God love us more or less.

At some point, God revealed a mystery that changed everything. He helped me see His image in other people’s eyes. For the first time in my life, I could accept people because I believed God was within them. Being made in the image of God means we are made in the fullness of love.

Self-care is a buzzword that’s often dismissed as unnecessary, indulgent, or, even worse, selfish. We know as Christians we are called to generosity, serving others, dying to self even. Yet the truth is loving ourselves and caring for ourselves leads to a healthy balanced body, mind, and spirit, which, in turn, allows us to love others well.

I am, ever so slowly, learning that my identity is not in what I do, but in the fact that I am inherently loved. And it is only this that allows me to be like Jesus because I know that no failure or success can change who I am in God’s heart.

We become more confident in Christ when we lay down our pride, removing self from the center of our confidence, worth, and significance, and centering these around our relationship with Jesus instead.

Believing that we must be more to be loved more, or give more to be accepted more, is an unattainable fallacy. Not only is this a flawed belief system but it’s also a revelation that our self-worth needs work. What we really need to believe and apply in our daily lives is the knowledge that God says we are more than enough and that our worthiness is grounded in Him.

And herein lies the lesson for you and me when shame attempts to drown us and our sin seeks to silence us - our past is meant not to keep us from His love but to propel us toward it. If you’re like me, this is a complete shift of perspective. I had assumed I needed to first earn His love. Then I thought I must perform to keep His love, proving I was worthy.

Mary was a young girl in a confusing situation, and she was trying to move forward in faith and obedience. When she needed support, she ran to a woman she trusted and loved. Elizabeth's excitement, joy, and encouragement about God's purpose for Mary was exactly what she needed in that moment. Do not underestimate the impact a word of encouragement from you can have on someone else.

Past pain, insecurity, and doubt still reside in my brain. Yet when I have moments of weakness, I know that my emotional and physical health is a steady work in progress. Old patterns creep up when I least expect them, but they don’t have to brew in my soul continually.

What if I told you that your heart longs for boundaries? Would you believe it? You may say, “Come on! What my heart longs for is freedom and independence-not boundaries!” Let me point you to three truths to help you embrace the security available to you; so that you can live out of God’s love. These truths will ground and secure for you the identity of belovedness He bestows on you.

How can someone like me with my imperfections or “pencil marks” be used by God? Over my lifetime, I’ve seen God’s sovereign hand and experienced His faithful love in my life. Through my imperfections and weaknesses, He has gently humbled and guided me through His Word and the encouragement of a community of believers.

In our global, interconnected, digital world, everyone is on our path. Caring can lead to cause burnout. It becomes so easy to throw up our hands in the face of it all, believing that we are too small to make any kind of difference by loving others well. Maybe it’s time to think smaller.

God has a calling over your life and it includes your work. God made you with specific skills, personality traits, strengths, and giftings, and when you walk in the fullness of who He made you, you will experience His love. You will feel more connected to Him and blessed in your job.