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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Romans 5:8, NIV).
It was the first Sunday in March, but nothing felt new or warm about what I was experiencing inside. Curled into a ball in the corner of my closet, I wrestled with overwhelming anxiety and depression. I was tired.
Tired of trying to be “Good enough.”
Tired of being addicted to work and productivity.
Tired of feeling empty inside.
Tired of checking things off my “spiritual checklist,” yet feeling far from God.
Tired of letting God down.
As I presented these thoughts to the Lord in a weary prayer, however, I was met with silence and love. Instead of giving in to the fear that, “If I stop trying so hard, will God still love me?” I started to believe the truth: God loves me regardless of what I produce.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived in a state of proving my value and worth. We don’t say God’s love is earned, but we certainly live like it is (myself included). Feeling close to God is easy, but only on “good” days. We want to pray, but we avoid it when we mess up, fearing shame and letting Him down. Before we know it, we start to believe that obedience results in earning. But what does Scripture actually say?
In Romans 5:8, we read these words: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(NIV). This verse illustrates three key principles:
- God loved us first. He died for us in love because He knew we couldn’t save ourselves.
- God moved towards us. God didn’t wait for us to improve ourselves before rescuing us. No, the Scriptures say that He died for us while we were still sinners.
- Love is the starting point of our relationship with Him, not the reward. When we encounter a personal relationship with Jesus, that relationship is built on a love we can’t earn. It’s a love that grows and deepens over time. God’s love is not a paycheck, but a gracious gift given to all who accept it.