Do you really believe God loves you—not just tolerates you? When I ask women who are exhausted from trying hard to be “good enough” this question, the reaction is usually tears springing to their eyes. I understand this response because it was my story for many years too.
Somehow we’ve gotten the idea that God simply “puts up with us” because He has to. We’re the naughty children who drive Him crazy, but He has to be our parent anyway. I believe at the root of every human quest for perfection is a misunderstanding of God’s love for us. Our hearts are made for love, and if we don’t think we can freely receive it, then we’ll try to earn it.
And as long as we’re trying to earn love, we can’t be still inside because we are afraid. Understanding God’s love for us is the only thing that can truly bring peace and rest to our hearts. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment” (1 John 4:18).
God doesn’t just love you; He is love. It’s the essence of His character. God can’t be unloving. It’s simply not possible. And His love is far different than what we’ve experienced from other people.
God is offering His love to you—fully, freely, and forever. It’s time to stop trying so hard, let your heart be still and simply receive it.
{read the full post on (in)courage}
art by Aliza Latta
XOXO
Holley Gerth
p.s. Every Wednesday for the next few weeks we’re going to talk about how we can get free from the pressure to be perfect. The posts will be inspired by my new book, You’re Loved No Matter What: Freeing Your Heart from the Need to Be Perfect. It will be like meeting at our favorite coffee shop for a book club! I’d love for you to invite your friends to join us. All you need to do is show up here each Wednesday or read the email that comes to your inbox.
Kristin Hill Taylor is also hosting an online study of #YoureLovedNoMatterWhat and you can join her here.
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Welcome to the Coffee for Your Heart weekly link-up! You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday {link-up goes live at 5:30am CST}. Simply write an encouraging blog post and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can still write an encouraging comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to holleygerth.com to see all the fun and join in too.
Optional Writing Prompt: For the next few weeks, the Wednesday posts are going to be about getting free from the pressure to be perfect. I’ll have an optional writing prompt for you about that topic. If you write about it, link up and include my new book You’re Loved No Matter What: Freeing Your Heart from the Need to Be Perfect in your post somehow, you’ll be entered in a special giveaway. The prompt for next week is: Where do you think pressure to be perfect comes from and what can we do about it?
Pretty please use this button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {html code in right sidebar}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thanks, friends!
I’m having Coffee For Your Heart with my friend Holley Gerth
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