Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity With Jennifer SlatteryNäide

You are loved.

Conner grew up receiving conditional love. If he behaved in appropriate ways—and his parents were in a pleasant mood—the doors to relationship remained open. If he did something that upset them, they’d withhold affection for extended periods. Eventually, he came to view love as transient, untrustworthy and connected with performance.

Sadly, this affected his relationship with Jesus. Everyone else seemed to have a closer connection with Him than he did. They seemed so at peace in His presence; so “filled” by His love. One morning, deeply saddened by the spiritual disconnect he felt, he cried out to God, “Why won’t You love me?!” In response, the Lord helped Conner understand that God's love flowed continuously, whether he "felt" this or not. As he grew in his relationship to Christ and understood His heart, Conner learned to trust and receive His unconditional, ceaseless love.

In Jeremiah 31:3, God tells us that His love for us is eternal. This means it’s not dependent on our behavior, feelings, or perception. It’s completely and forever unconditional, ever streaming from the Father’s heart to ours. When we don’t “feel” His love, that doesn’t mean it’s absent. It could indicate that our souls carry wounds in need of His healing grace. Thankfully, He’s the perfect healer.

Journal prompt:

In what ways have past experiences affected your sense of God’s love? What does it mean to you that His love is unconditional and inexhaustible? Ask God to help you grasp the depth of His love and to find healing and strength in it.