Have you ever felt the weight of not being enough? That whisper in your soul suggesting God couldn't possibly love someone like you? If you're carrying those invisible burdens of shame and inadequacy.
Romans 5:8 reveals how God shows His love while we're still in our mess. The profound reality is that Jesus loves you right now—not as you wish you were or hope to become.
This isn't about religious performance or earning divine favor. It's about understanding that God's love precedes our perfection.
Through the powerful parable of the prodigal son, we see how the father's extravagant welcome mirrors God's response to our running to Him. No lectures or probation periods—just pure celebration.
When feelings of unworthiness surface (and they will), remember: feelings are real but not always true. God's love doesn't fluctuate with your emotions; it's anchored in His unchanging character. Perhaps the most stunning truth? Jesus didn't go to the cross because you were perfect; He went because you are precious. He simply didn't want heaven without you.
Whether you're tired, uncertain, or just need a reminder that you're seen and loved, these five minutes will lift your spirit.
God's love isn't a reward for the worthy—it's a gift for the willing.
Take this encouragement with you today, and when doubt creeps in, remember: Jesus sees you, loves you, and will never let you go.
Episode Transcript
Oh, you're at the right place.
This is your Encouraging5-Minute Podcast Over the next
five minutes here to encourageyou and inspire you to lift your
day.
I'm Eric, this is my friendHeather and, by the way, at the
end of the five minutes, if youneed more encouragement, you can
always listen again or you cantune into your Encouraging WPER
Virginia's home forencouragement outside of the
listening area.
You could even download the appWPER Virginia's home for
(00:23):
encouragement outside of thelistening area.
You could even download the app.
Wper is what you're looking for.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now we don't know what your days look like so far.
Maybe it's been a little heavyand maybe you've been carrying
around an ache in your soul, youknow, like the kind that just
whispers you're not enough orworse God couldn't possibly love
somebody like you.
And maybe somebody has saidthose things to you.
You know, once and now, yourheart believes them.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, if that's where you are right now, we just want
to take a few minutes to speakdirectly to your heart.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, because here's the truth you are deeply loved
by Jesus Christ right now, justas you are, not as you wish you
were or hope you someday will be.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Maybe you've made some mistakes, maybe you feel
broken, ashamed or evenforgotten, but none of that,
none of that can cancel out thelove God has for you.
You know, every single humanthat's ever lived or will ever
live has made mistakes.
Okay, I take comfort in thatRight.
They've also felt shame, theyfelt broken.
(01:29):
Even people God used in theBible do some amazing things
where people that made mistakesand if that's written down for
us to see centuries later, wow,think about that.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, but you know what else is written down for us
to see centuries later, proofof his love for you, just as you
are in this moment.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Romans 5.8 says God demonstrates his love for us in
this While we were still sinners, he died for us.
Did you catch that While wewere still sinners, he didn't
wait for us to clean ourselves?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
up.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
He didn't love for a future polished version of you.
He loved you in your mess, inyour pain, in your darkest hour,
and he still does.
You know, sometimes the problemis that I believe that we
believe God's love has to beearned.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I've been there in my life.
You know like we got to workhard or do better, try harder do
more just to prove him worthyof love.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
That's religion, and Jesus didn't come to build a
religion or make us perform.
He came to build a relationshipwith you, with me, with Heather
.
He came to rescue, not toreward, people who are trying to
prove that they're morerighteous than someone else.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Okay, think of the story of the prodigal son, right
, that kid messed up badly, hehurt his family, he wasted all
of his money and finally he hitrock bottom and we're talking
like he was feeding pigs and hegot jealous of the slop he was
feeding those pigs.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
However, when he finally came home, what did his
dad do?
He ran to him, threw his armsaround his son.
He called for a feast and a bigparty.
Not a lecture, not a punishmenta celebration.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That's the kind of love that God has for you right
now, and yeah you might bethinking okay, but I don't feel
that.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I don't feel like God loves me.
Like that it's okay.
Feelings are real, but they'renot always true.
God's love isn't based on howyou feel.
It's based on who he is, andhe's faithful, constant,
unchanging.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Now.
Jesus did not go to the crossbecause you were perfect.
He went to the cross becauseyou are precious.
Let that sink in.
Jesus died on the cross becausehe didn't want heaven without
you.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Let that sink in just for a second.
I mean, you're not too far gone, you're not too broken, you're
not disqualified, you're seen,you're known, you are deeply,
unshakably loved.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Now, if you don't remember anything else from
today's podcast, remember thisGod's love is not a reward for
the worthy, it's a gift for thewilling, and if you're willing
to offer him your heart, even aheart that's tired or bruised or
not 100% sure, that is enough.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, God's not asking that you have it all
together.
He's just asking you come hometo him.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Thanks for spending these few minutes with us today.
We hope your heart feels alittle lighter.
Maybe this has been somethingthat gives you a little bit more
hope, and we hope, more thananything, that you feel a whole
lot more love.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And when you start to doubt, remember Jesus sees you,
jesus loves you and he willnever let you go.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Nope, not at all.
Thank you so much for lettingus spend these five minutes with
you.
We're Eric and Heather on yourfive-minute encouraging podcast.
Now, if you want a little bitmore encouragement, you can
listen to this again.
You can listen to WPER,Virginia's Home for
Encouragement, but if you'reoutside the listening area, head
over to WPERorg.
You can download the WPER app.
Maybe share that with a friendtoo who thinks I think I need a
(04:49):
little bit more encouragement.
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