My heart was hardened, and I shut myself off from both God and the world. I grew up thinking I had to be a certain way to be loved. But during my senior year at a Cru retreat, I learned something that changed everything: God loves me exactly as I am.
He loves me in the midst of my brokenness, anxiety, and imperfection. I was shocked by this truth. It broke me down to a point where I had nowhere left to turn but to God.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God doesn’t get angry with us; He loves us even when we feel like we’re doing wrong. For the first time in my life, I experienced pure joy. God doesn’t just love me—He wants a relationship with me. I’m not perfect, and I never will be, but that’s okay because God is perfect.
Even when I wasn’t seeking Him, God pursued me. Now, I don’t have to fake happiness; the joy I feel is real. I still face struggles, but I know in my heart that God loves me now and will forever, no matter what I do. My struggles no longer make me feel ashamed. Instead, they remind me of the beauty and depth of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
