How could God Love me?

[scapularkid8]

It took me a while, but I’m finally realizing as I get older that I’m not perfect. I’m so weak. How could God love me? But I look at the Cross and I know that He Does. WHY?! I mess up every single day! I put myself in occasions of sin. It seems as if I don’t do any good ever. I try hard, but it just seems like I’m failing Him. This isn’t in a scrupulous manner, but just me being baffled at how me being the human that I am, could be desired so much by God.

Does anyone else have this daily struggle where you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing of spiritual merit but you just keep going in the Faith? Is that the definition of a Christian?

 

[reen12]

quote: scapularkid8

Does anyone else have this daily struggle where you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing of spiritual merit but you just keep going in the Faith? Is that the definition of a Christian?

I think that’s the defintion of humility, scapularkid8.

I once asked a person in her eighties, how she had
been able to keep going, for all those decades, with
all of the problems that she had had. She told me:
“Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
I thought that a good example.

I have no answer to give, about how God keeps on loving
each of us. I just know that He does. On those rare
occassions, when I can stop looking at my sins and failings,
and start looking at Him, that seems to help a lot.
But it is not easy to do that, I’ve found.

The Book of Proverbs says:

“The just man falls seven times a day.” [Proverbs 24:16]

[In the Scriptures, “seven” means “a lot.”]
If I could learn to look at Him, not me, I think that I
would not get so easily discouraged.

The word ‘humility’ comes from the Latin “humus” = soil, earth.

The good thing about soil is that it is close to us.
It’s only when a human being starts “riding a high horse,”
being proud, that he/she may fall off - onto the ground.
As Saul did - on his way to Antioch.

God knocked him off of his high horse. Saul learned humility.
To learn to keep close to the earth, from which Adam was made.

There’s nothing wrong about riding a horse, if one keeps in mind
Who made this beautiful creature, and all else, I find.

Yes, this is part of being a Christian, or a member of
Orthodox Judaism, and so on.

Humility is a virtue that human beings need, I think.
For humility gives each a sense of proportion.
He is the Creator, we the created. I sin and He forgives,
over and over - for a lifetime. That is why He is a God of mercy,
and Mercy itself.

reen12

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

It took me a while, but I’m finally realizing as I get older that I’m not perfect. I’m so weak. How could God love me? But I look at the Cross and I know that He Does. WHY?! I mess up every single day! I put myself in occasions of sin. It seems as if I don’t do any good ever. I try hard, but it just seems like I’m failing Him. This isn’t in a scrupulous manner, but just me being baffled at how me being the human that I am, could be desired so much by God.

Does anyone else have this daily struggle where you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing of spiritual merit but you just keep going in the Faith? Is that the definition of a Christian?

God’s Love for creatures - sinful or otherwise - comes from God’s Goodness, & not from theirs. It owes nothing to theirs at all - it could not, because it is the only source of what good there is in them.​

 

[NPC]

It may seem a bit simplistic, but I would say the first, and maybe the most important explanation for how God could love you or anyone else is the fact that you are here! God made you and everyone else out of love. That love existed from the beginning of time and he will not abandon you even when you feel you have most failed him. You clearly love God -your humility shows this- and you know that He loves you - the outstretched arms of Christ tell you just how much He loves you every time you look at the crucifix. Falling into occasions of sin aren’t near as important as how you actually choose to deal with it. The old “Penny Catechism” which young children used to study asked the question “Why did God make me?” The answer was “God made me to love Him and to serve Him” - you never fail God if you do your best to love and serve Him and I have no doubt that you certainly do your best. In his homily on Sunday our priest quoted a line which I found both touching and encouraging - “God loves us just the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way.” That line speaks volumes, and one thing it shows me is that God has love for us far beyond what we can imagine, and it is precisely that love which will sustain us in our endeavour to better ourselves and to better serve God.

 

[Belle10]

Are you a parent? If so, think of it this way (or think about your parents loving you if you’re not a parent yourself):

I love my DD more than life itself. I would do anything for her, I would die to protect her. She doesn’t bring me joy because of things she might do for me or how she talks or anything else – she simply brings me joy because she is part of me, I (with DH and God) created her, and I love her. Do I get frustrated with her behavior sometimes? Of course (she’s in the “terrible twos” right now, so it’s challenging sometimes!). Does that diminish my love for her in any way? Of course not!

Now, multiply this intrinsic love by billions and billions, and you get God’s love for us. Pretty amazing isn’t it? He gives us another chance when we sincerely ask Him for it (confession) and invites us to be one with Him (Holy Communion). What a wonderful Father He is. :bowdown:

From 1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Mark 2:15-17
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

 

[MarieVeronica]

Hi SK . Yep, I often asked this question. “Lord, how can You possibly love me?”. But I’ve stopped asking the question. Because I kept getting the same answer…

“I love you, because you’re My child”.

Because I don’t have any children of my own, it took awhile for this to sink in. But I think I’ve finally accepted it. God loves me (and you) because we’re His children.

You’re on the absolute RIGHT track… if you see His love for you, when you look at Our Lord on the Cross. That is why we Catholics have Crucifixes in our homes. It is a reminder of His ultimate “I love you” to each one of us. And when the devil tries to convince us that God doesn’t love us… we have only to kneel for a moment or two, and contemplate Our Suffering Lord, to know that He does love us.

Thanks for a great thread, and a great reminder to us all. God bless.

 

[bpbasilphx]

ScapularKid8, it sounds to me like you’re discovering that you’re a mere human being.

Congratuations! Seriously, this is the FIRST step in humility.

God called you into being from non-existence to start with PRECISELY so He could love you. Remember that!

 

[KingAlfred]

It took me a while, but I’m finally realizing as I get older that I’m not perfect. I’m so weak. How could God love me? But I look at the Cross and I know that He Does. WHY?! I mess up every single day! I put myself in occasions of sin. It seems as if I don’t do any good ever. I try hard, but it just seems like I’m failing Him. This isn’t in a scrupulous manner, but just me being baffled at how me being the human that I am, could be desired so much by God.

Does anyone else have this daily struggle where you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing of spiritual merit but you just keep going in the Faith? Is that the definition of a Christian?

Yes…all the time. We are assaulted by temptation constantly. Our secular conditioning beckons us to satiate our base desires without hesitation or remorse. At 50, I have finally arrived at a place in life where I can safely (in secular terms) distance myself from the World of Man, and focus on my noble work of educating young adults, privately shrouded in Christian idealism. Still, it’s hard. I have colleagues who probably think I’m anti-social and aloof, but that’s not it. It’s simply that I choose to hold alone with Christ, a goodly part of the day, in order to avoid the sins of gossip, superfluous talk, and worldliness. “For as many times as I have gone amongst men, I have returned less a man.” – The Imitation of Christ

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

Love. What a grand idea. Emotion and commitment. Divine origins. What greater love than giving up your life for your friends? Friday is always a reminder to me of the love Jesus showed to us, not because we deserved it, but really because we didn’t.

Show your gratitude to God for this great love by loving someone who also is “hard to love”. The sick, the old, the lonely, the broken hearted. Forgiveness to the unforgiven, patience with the impatient. God bless you.

 

[rinnie]

I felt that way after the first time i saw the Passion of the Christ. I didnt feel any of us were worth that. The horrible pain Christ had gone through just for us. So I just try to be a better person every day and hope someday I can make him proud. And when i saw what the Blessed Mother went through, No one in this world suffered more than her and Jesus.

 

[Trishie]

I think lots of us ask that question. I know I have. I remember when I was ten, pondering, wandering the playground and I asked in my heart 'How can You possibly love us? We are like generation upon generation of ants." I’d wondered many times. Perhaps because I had asked directly with all the urgency and sincerity of my young heart…I felt a sudden overwhelming peace that said in my mind, “because I am your Father”. I would not have accepted the words if there had been spoken by anyone as I already have too questioning a mind and knew what ‘begging the question’ was. It was the overwhelming peace that came out of nowhere that convinced me.

That doesn’t mean that in both failure, and when feeling helpless to help others, I don’t experience the same question, many times. I only once again ever had that overwhelming sense of peace. My last day of secondary college, I stayed on after the others had left, standing at the top of the one building double storey college. I knew I had a mind that questioned too much, and I was afraid. “What if I abandon You?” This only other time of overwhelming peace said in my mind, "You may abandon Me but I will never abandon you.’’ I ran down the stairs to go home. With time, too many unanswered doubts and questions, and I abandoned Him for 10 years, till one day God suddenly yanked me back. Sometimes I still teter on the verge of unbelief, because God sometimes seems so silent and unresponsive and my heart is wretched over others’ needs and sorrows. As Reen shared, “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”…in trust and love. Because God does love us.

“Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed…to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold.” [1Peter 1:5-7]

“For I, Yahweh, your God,
I am holding you by the right hand;
I tell you, do not be afraid, I will help you.
Do not be afraid…poor worm…
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.” [Isaiah 41:13-14]

“The only thing that counts is not what human beings want or try to do, but the mercy of God.” [Romans 9:16]

“I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts…but I only want the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith.” [Philippians 3:9]

“Glory to Him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” [Ephesians 3:20]

“I was thinking: ‘I have toiled in vain, I have exhausted myself for nothing.’ And all the while my cause was with God, my reward with my God.” [Isaiah 49:3-4]

For “the Lord is not being slow to carry out His promises…but He is being patient with you all, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to change his ways.” [2Peter 3:9]

 

[Conservative]

Dear Scapularkid -
Not only are there times when I feel as though I haven’t done enough worthy of “spiritual merit” - there’s times when I know I haven’t. What you seem to have - isn’t a case of scrupulosity…but just forgetfulness —You’ve forgotten you’re talking about God. He’s perfect…He loves us all…He created us with all our faults and knowing in advance the mistakes we’d make - spiritually or otherwise. Just your post - just your desire/concern to do more spiritually - must certainly be pleasing to God. I think we all underestimate/forget that God sees everything we do - and think.

I don’t think any of us are truly spiritually worthy enough - we can never be as perfect as our Creator. All He asks is that we try - daily - and whether or not we succeed, He wants us to continue by asking for HIS help. He gave us His Son, Jesus, and even then - showed us the example of Our Lord, carrying His Cross - and falling three times - and getting up again. That’s the lesson. Just keep trying in Our Lord’s Name. Just do something small - don’t overextend your efforts - and perhaps, little by little you’ll find yourself in a better place spiritually. Hope this helps.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well I think we can all relate to what scapularkid is expressing.
Myself, been there done that.

I think that Jesus own words are approiate here;

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Matthew 11:28.

God Bless
Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

There is a song on the John Michael Talbot album, Hiding Place, called “Confession.” I believe it comes from the Confessions of St. Augustine, and also from one of the epistles of St. John

The words in the beging, speak to me ;

I see a struggle now within
Alive in my soul
As I’m dying to sin**
I do the things that I hate
So I hate what I do
Who will deliver me?

Thanks be to God, in Jesus Christ for in him there is no
condemnation at all.

When I’ve fallen, this song pulls me up.

Jim

 

[JohnJFarren]

JMJ / MMM 080613
Hello scapularkid8 –
God doesn’t Love you because you are good … God Loves you because GOD is infinitely GOODNESS and LOVING. It’s that simple. All … ALL … absolutely ALL is pure gift! Even your cooperation with God’s grace is PURE GIFT.
John (JohnJFarren) Unionidentity@aol.com

 

[Nickkname]

It took me a while, but I’m finally realizing as I get older that I’m not perfect. I’m so weak. How could God love me? But I look at the Cross and I know that He Does. WHY?! I mess up every single day! I put myself in occasions of sin. It seems as if I don’t do any good ever. I try hard, but it just seems like I’m failing Him. This isn’t in a scrupulous manner, but just me being baffled at how me being the human that I am, could be desired so much by God.

Does anyone else have this daily struggle where you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing of spiritual merit but you just keep going in the Faith? Is that the definition of a Christian?

God loves you because God is love.

 

[GemmaRose]

It took me a while, but I’m finally realizing as I get older that I’m not perfect. I’m so weak. How could God love me? But I look at the Cross and I know that He Does. WHY?! I mess up every single day! I put myself in occasions of sin. It seems as if I don’t do any good ever. I try hard, but it just seems like I’m failing Him. This isn’t in a scrupulous manner, but just me being baffled at how me being the human that I am, could be desired so much by God.

Does anyone else have this daily struggle where you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing of spiritual merit but you just keep going in the Faith? Is that the definition of a Christian?

When I read your post, I went " " because I could have written the same thing word for word. It’s my chief struggle spiritually. My “head” knows that He loves me… just look at any crucifix - but my heart? That’s another thing. My heart asks “Why?”, “How?”

One day, when I was particularly being bothered by this, and had some of my favorite music playing, two songs in particular hit me in the head like the proverbial ton of bricks.

One song is:

WHO AM I
by Casting Crowns (Casting Crowns CD)

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Refrain:

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who You are.
​

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still, You hear me when I’m calling.
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And you told me who I am:
I am yours.

Who am I, that the Eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the Voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Repeat refrain 2x

Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear
‘Cause I am yours? I am yours.

The line “I am Yours” made that :newidea: go on in my head. I am His.

The other song really helps when I start throwing myself a guilt party:

HEAL THE WOUND
*by Point of Grace *(“How You Live” CD)

I used to wish that I could re-write history.
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased.
Then I could just pretend I never knew the me back then.

I used to pray that You would take this shame away,
Hide all the evidence of who I’ve been.
But it’s the memory of the place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees even though I’m free.

Heal the wound but leave the scar -
A reminder of how merciful You are.
I am broken, torn apart.
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound, but leave the scar.

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything,
And I don’t take pride in what I’ve read;
But I’ll build an altar with the rubble that You found me in
And every stone will sing of what You can redeem.

Repeat refrain 3x

“Heal the wound but leave the scar - A reminder of how merciful You are.” WOW!

I had never thought of it like this. He’s healed the wounds in Confession. It’s the scars that have been causing all the guilt feelings because I was looking at them the wrong way. I’ve been looking at them saying “What a terrible person I’ve been” instead of “What a merciful God You are.”

Sometimes, I just play these songs over and over so the message sinks in and stays.

I think this is a great thread, and all the posts here have been wonderful to read. Thanks Scapularkid8 for starting it.

 

[Belle10]

When I read your post, I went " " because I could have written the same thing word for word. It’s my chief struggle spiritually. My “head” knows that He loves me… just look at any crucifix - but my heart? That’s another thing. My heart asks “Why?”, “How?”

One day, when I was particularly being bothered by this, and had some of my favorite music playing, two songs in particular hit me in the head like the proverbial ton of bricks.

One song is:

The line “I am Yours” made that :newidea: go on in my head. I am His.

The other song really helps when I start throwing myself a guilt party:

“Heal the wound but leave the scar - A reminder of how merciful You are.” WOW!

I had never thought of it like this. He’s healed the wounds in Confession. It’s the scars that have been causing all the guilt feelings because I was looking at them the wrong way. I’ve been looking at them saying “What a terrible person I’ve been” instead of “What a merciful God You are.”

Sometimes, I just play these songs over and over so the message sinks in and stays.

I think this is a great thread, and all the posts here have been wonderful to read. Thanks Scapularkid8 for starting it.

Great post!! (I love “Who Am I?” too! Casting Crowns has a lot of beautiful songs.)

 

[GemmaRose]

Great post!! (I love “Who Am I?” too! Casting Crowns has a lot of beautiful songs.)

I agree - Casting Crowns is good. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Point of Grace, but their CD How You Live is absolutely fantastic!!

 

[Belle10]

I agree - Casting Crowns is good. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Point of Grace, but their CD How You Live is absolutely fantastic!!

I don’t know a lot of their songs, but I do know “How You Live” and I love it! I also love Mercy Me.