The Lie I Didn’t Know I Believed

For a long time, I believed God loved me…
but I wasn’t sure He liked me.

I knew the verses. I knew the theology.
But deep down, I thought His love was an obligation—
something He had to give because of who He is.
But liking me?
That felt like a stretch.

Especially on the days I struggled.
When I felt addicted, ashamed, anxious, or inconsistent.
When I couldn’t get it together.
When I messed up, again.

That’s when I assumed God took a step back.
Still loving me from a distance,
but with a little disappointment in His eyes.

But here’s what I’ve learned—
that wasn’t His voice.
That was a lie.

And it wasn’t until I faced it, named it, and handed it back to Him,
that I could finally feel the nearness I’d been craving.

Because God doesn’t just love you.
He delights in you.
Not the cleaned-up version of you.
The real you.

“The Lord your God is with you… He will take great delight in you.” —Zephaniah 3:17

He wants every part of you.
Not just your Sunday morning self.
Not just your progress or your praise.
He wants to walk with you through the thoughts you don't say out loud,
through the chaos of your day,
through the quiet ache in your heart.

He wants to be part of your life.
He wants you to talk to Him.
To bring Him the mess and the milestones.
To stop waiting until you're "better" to invite Him in.

You don’t have to earn His affection.
You don’t have to perform your way into His presence.
He’s not holding back until you’re more “spiritual.”
He’s kneeling beside you, just like Jesus did with the woman in shame.

If you're weary from trying to be enough,
this is your invitation to rest.
To trade the lie for the truth.
To stop asking, “Am I lovable?”
and start hearing Him say,
"You already are. And I want you—yes, you—just as you are."

This is just one of the lies we’re breaking down in the book we’re writing—
because so many of us are walking with God,
but still carrying wounds that keep us from fully trusting His love.
And it's time for that to change.