For several days, I’ve had the sniffles, and my eyes have been a bit dry and itchy. I thought I was coming down with a cold but then remembered that it is March – the beginning of allergy season.

I headed to my local drugstore to pick up my allotment of allergy meds and discovered that they are now behind a locked plastic window, and can only be opened by a store employee. Interestingly, it was only a few brands that were ‘behind bars.’ 

This week I listened to several teachings that were focused on your self-worth and value in God’s eyes. Each message had a goal of ensuring its listeners knew the truth about how they were viewed by our Father in heaven and the enormity of God’s love.

“[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24 AMPC)

For far too long, my worth and value have been measured by achievements, titles, or jobs. When those things were taken away, I struggled to find my value. What kind of impact am I making, if any?

However, as we have all experienced, each of those things is temporary and conditional. You’ve heard the saying, “You’re only as good as your last accomplishment.” This mentality keeps us in a “works” mode, always trying to earn recognition, approval, and love from others, possibly even God.

Yet, God’s love is eternal and unconditional and based entirely on who HE is, not what or who I am, because God is love (1 John 4:8).

You see, God doesn’t have to try to love us, He loves us no matter what. He loves us on our good days and our bad days. Even when we are not particularly loving to others, or to ourselves, He still loves us. 

Growing up, I was always under the burden of having to earn God’s love. “If I just act good enough, God will love me” or “If I memorize all of my prayers and recite them perfectly, then God will love me,” was my belief.

This, my friend, kept me under lock and key and continual striving of trying to earn God’s love. It was not until the last dozen or so years that this lie has been debunked. How? Well, simply, because the Bible says it’s not true. God’s love has nothing to do with me. It’s all about Him and His grace towards those who believe.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV, emphasis mine))

God so loved the world that He gave us His Son Jesus (John 3:16) to show us what the love of the

Father looks like. If you ever doubt God’s love for you, just look at what Jesus did for you so that you could spend eternity in heaven with Him.

This week, I would like to encourage you to unlock the truth and power of God’s love. The Gospel of John and his three letters are a great place to start!

And remember, God doesn’t lock up His love. It doesn’t take a special key or a customer service rep to unlock it. He gives it to us freely 24/7/365.

P.S. If you would like to learn more about God’s love for you, click here to listen to the Elevate The Day podcast “Declutter Your Beliefs About God.”