John 3:16
It’s held up on banners at football games. It’s the first verse you learn as a believer. It’s shared so much that we can actually forget the power in these words.
God so loved the world.
Not just those who have it all together. . . but all of us.
It took years for John 3:16 to be engraved on my identity. I thought I had to earn it. Maybe, like me, you’ve questioned God’s love for you or you’ve thought that if you tried harder, did better, fit in, healed faster. . . that you’d somehow attain His love.
It doesn’t work that way.
Not according to John 3:16-17.
As you begin to trust that He loves you — in your mess, with your hurt, with your questions — then walls start coming down.
You start to eagerly listen for His voice.
Which means that you begin to sense when He is teaching or redirecting you.
Which means that you become fiercely aware of those places that knock you down and send you the other way.
You know where to go.
To the One who loves you.
You know where to go when you need mercy. You know where to go to fill up when you feel empty.
Can this really be that simple?
The truth is that many of us, even those who can quote Scripture and unearth the Hebrew and Greek meanings of words and phrases, are still trying to earn our way into God’s love. We are so focused on what we haven’t done or what we need to do or the broken pieces that seem too fractured to put back together that we’ve forgotten the power of what Jesus offers.
Why might it look like for you to rest in His love for you?
Read pages 28-31 in The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places.
Now, take a look at Jesus’ mission statement one more time:
- I’ve come to open the eyes of the blind.
- I’ve come to set the prisoner free.
- I’ve come with good news for the poor in spirit.
- I’ve come to heal the brokenhearted.
- I’ve come to break the chains of the oppressed.
Q: Jesus is pointing to Himself in these words. Why is that important in your healing journey?
Q: Read John 9:25 and Luke 19:1-8. What happened when each of these individuals encountered Jesus?
Q: Who are you in this Mission Statement? Why? Take a moment and ask God for what you need.
Q: In what way will you rest in God’s love beginning today?
Related resource
The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places by Suzanne Eller
Being hurt and heartbroken is a sad reality for most of us. But I’m so thankful for this treasure of a book written by my friend Suzie Eller. Page by page, Suzie will help you understand how God’s truth can heal your pain so you can move forward whole and healed. ~ Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and President of Proverbs 31 Ministries
I have had a wall up. There has been a great big X. This wall of rules and trying to check this off my list. “No matter how I have arrived at my brokenness the power of the cross is not found in what I have done but what has already been done.” I am in awe of the words penned here and how the words are penetrating my heart. I have been stuck in head knowledge not heart knowledge. I wish I had more time but I have to go to work. I have been sick with bronchitis and today is my first day back to work so I would covet your prayers. Blessings Diana
Oh if only I could convince myself that I can do this! Every time I read one of these posts, something stirs within me. I’ve been running and I don’t know what from. I’m beginning to wonder if I’m running from the full extent of God’s love for me. It’s one thing to know in your mind that you are loved; it’s a totally different thing to know in your heart that you are loved. The condition of my heart is what needs healing, rest and to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God’s love is unfailing and all encompassing. I think (I won’t say I know because I am still trying to figure all of this out) that I have been hurt and I have seen others hurt enough times that to give my whole heart, my whole being, over to anyone, even God unfortunately, is very hard. I’m getting there, but I’m obviously still running or else I wouldn’t feel so drawn to this study!
Today has been incredibly bad, incredibly hard. I want to be able to dive in, but I can’t even concentrate on the words I’m reading. I’m working so hard to be an encouraging presence in my husband’s life, but today I just lost it. I was hard & hurtful, & blatantly, painfully honest about his temper and his refusal to try to seek help for the constant depression and hopelessness he feels . When I try to understand, he says I don’t & can’t. I love him so much, but today I just couldn’t handle the negativity anymore. I’m very afraid I’ve done more harm than good. Please… I truly need your prayers today. I don’t deserve God’s mercy or love when I act like this. I should be able to handle it.
Zacchaeus gave half of his possessions to the poor and paid back those he cheated four times over. Humility washed over him like the rinse cycle of a washing machine. He got rid of the muddy stains on the jeans’ knees of his soul. Everyone said about Zacchaeus, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” I am so grateful that Jesus is in my home. This sinner needs Him every day.
I understand at one level that I don’t have to perform to earn His approval. But I’m a people-pleaser – in fact, addicted to people’s approval. Yikes! I want so much to relax in my relationship with Jesus and to not worry about what others think.
I’m so very grateful that grace is at the core of our faith. I come back to Papa’s sweet forgiveness again and again. Suzie, this is a wonderful post. Just reading it soothes my soul.
Suzie, I love how you’re breaking down your chapter into easy-to-read, bite-size pieces to study. I love reading about Jesus coming to heal and save us. Especially me – the prisoner set free (prisoner to my hurts and habits). Your words will be a great reminder to me today to rest in God’s love: “the power of the cross is not found in what I do but in what has already been done for me.”. Thank you!!!!