You Are Loved

Grace Beyond Perfection

There is nothing more hurtful than being rejected for who you are. Discovering that someone does not accept you because you fall short in some area of life can wound deeply. Many of us search for true love while quietly wondering where it can actually be found.

Often, we give unconditional acceptance to others, knowing—sometimes painfully—that we may not receive the same in return. In those moments, self-hatred can creep in, and we may even find ourselves punished by others for the way they feel about themselves. What we believe, we give. And when we feel condemned for our failures, we instinctively reach out, longing for acceptance.

Yet if we are not careful, we can drift into pride when we perceive perfection in ourselves.

When Religion Hurts Instead of Heals

It is heartbreaking how religion and even the Bible are sometimes used to carry out what people believe to be God’s wrath—condemning others, sending them to hell, as though we ourselves were God. My heart goes out to the victims of man-made religion that spreads hatred while believing it is doing God a favor.

I cannot fully understand what you have been through or what you may be facing right now. But I can tell you this with certainty:

God loves you.

Scripture tells us that the Law brings forth death, but Jesus came to give life—and life more abundantly. What He offers is a gift from heaven: complete and total forgiveness.

God can love us because He is love.

Grace Levels the Playing Field

As humans, we often respond to hate with hate and love with love—an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Many Christians love others as long as they fit neatly into a bubble. Revealed sins are not welcome; they must stay hidden in the closet.

But it is Jesus who makes us acceptable before God. He has opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come in and work within us. In Christ, the ground is level. We are His children, learning to trust God through Jesus together.

If You Feel Unloved Today

Let me remind you of a few truths:

• If you feel unloved today — you are loved.
• If you’ve been hurt by the church — God still loves you.
• If you’ve experienced a broken marriage or family — you are loved.
• If you’re struggling with sickness and your future feels uncertain — God still loves you.

We are not exempt from problems, but we are also not exempt from God’s love.

Nothing can separate us from His love, and its greatest expression is Jesus.

Choosing Healthy Community

• Don’t stay around people who expect perfection from you—and don’t expect it from yourself.
• Don’t surround yourself with those who blame you for their problems—and don’t blame yourself for everything either.
• Find people who see the good in you despite your failures.
• Find people who see the good that God sees in you.

Love imperfect people, remembering that you are not perfect either. And love yourself anyway.

What Love Really Is

Love is God in human form.

Love, in its purest expression, is Jesus dying on the cross for my imperfections—my sins.

Love is forgiveness.

Love is Jesus.

A Personal Note

Forgive me if I have ever hurt you.

I forgive you for hurting me.

I am not perfect—so get over it.

You’re not either—and I’ll get over it.

God loves us, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

Amen.

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
— 1 Peter 3:8–9 (NKJV)