1. Make it a Priority to Learn About God’s True Character
Believing that we’re not “good enough” for God is directly related to ideas, teachings, and beliefs that center around a version of God that requires us to earn His love.
In other words, it’s related to the idea that God’s character is harsh, critical, selective, random, judgemental…just to name a few.
So, in order to start moving away from this belief that you need to be “good enough,” you first need to disprove it.
You need to learn who God truly is, so that you confidently know what He really wants.
The more you learn about God and His true character, the more you’ll find:
Acceptance (for who you are)
Love (that you don’t need to earn)
Freedom (from unbiblical ideas)
Not to mention God’s desire to share your burdens, to protect you, to nurture you, to be close to you, etc.
If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, then you know I routinely cover topics related to God’s character. So you may have already started making progress in this area.
If you’re new, I would recommend browsing past episodes and using the FREE resource that is this podcast. You can freely access it 24/7 to start changing your life - and your relationship with God - in profound ways.
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe so you can instantly be notified when new episodes are released.
In addition, I encourage all of you listening (new listeners and avid fans) to sign-up for my email list (https://bit.ly/GodLovesMeEmail). Why? Because by the end of the year, I’ll be releasing a series of mini-courses that will dig deeper into God’s character., taking you beyond the teaching in the podcast.
These mini courses will be residing within a special online community, so that you can be supported, ask questions, and have access to other tools and resources to further expand your biblical knowledge about God - and help you move rapidly away from hopelessness and despair into something loving and hopeful.
By signing up for my email list, you’ll get notified as soon as they launch. (Of course, if you’re hearing this well into the future, all you might have to do is visit my website.)
That being said, don’t feel obligated to only use my resources. The goal here is to really make learning about God’s true character a high priority as a first step. Just make sure the resources you’re consuming are truly biblical.
2. Let God’s Voice be the Most Powerful in Your Life
Chances are, you’re coming from a place where other people have been telling you - directly or indirectly - what to believe about God, how to think and act, what you should believe, etc.
This can also include those who have abused or manipulated you.
It can be difficult to hear anything outside of those voices. Especially if they’re loud, highly insistent, and/or belong to people we love.
Yet, as you begin to learn about God and who He truly is, that truth needs to have the most power in your life.
And as you begin to cultivate a relationship with God, and He begins to speak to you (through His Word or other sources) about how much He loves and values you; who you are to Him; and what He does and doesn’t want you to do, His voice needs to (a) be heard, and (b) given more weight than those who’ve been shouting things that don’t align with what He’s telling you.
Isaiah 45:19 (NLT) says, “I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.” (Emphasis added.)
God is the author of truth - not deception, lies, or misinformation. That’s the work of the enemy (aka Satan) and humans who happen to be off the mark.
So, as God speaks truth to you, let that truth ring louder than anything else - including past teachings, experiences, or beliefs.
Note: If you want some visual reminders of God’s character, and want something tangible near you to remind you of His voice, check out the custom designs in my RedBubble store (https://www.relateescape.com/store).
3. Cling to Jesus and Allow Him to Move You Away from the Past
As you learn about God’s true character, and let His voice ring louder into your life, you’ll naturally start moving away from where you are today. The truth always sets us free from the lies.
Yet, you need to also be willing to move forward. Humans naturally shy away from uncomfortable things, even if they’re actually better for us.
It’s why people will cling to an abusive relationship, for example, avoiding a new, unknown life despite its promise of freedom from pain and trauma.
You’re not in this alone, though. You have God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
You don’t have to stay stuck; you have everything (or everyone) you need to move forward and make amazing progress - step-by-step.
Being a Christian means to “follow Christ.” Jesus, acting on authority of the Father, knows exactly what you need to move forward such as:
How you need to heal
What you might need financially or logistically (sometimes physical distance helps with a fresh start, for example)
What bad memories you’re struggling with
Your fears or worries
What kind of support system you need
What biblical truth or knowledge you need
…just to name a few examples.
Biblical knowledge (such as knowing God’s real character) and proactive steps go hand-in-hand. Plus, this is an ongoing journey.
So, as you get to know God, ask Him to also help you know Jesus. (Which, as you study God’s character, who Jesus is will also come to light.)
Then, ask Jesus to help you (a) hear His voice through the Holy Spirit, and (b) follow where He leads.
Not only will this help with initial progress, it’ll set you up for continued progress and transformation during your entire relationship with God.
Note: If you’d like additional help learning about who Jesus is, there are several podcast episodes that focus on that exact topic. In addition, one of the mini courses I mentioned earlier will focus on Jesus. So, again, sign-up for my email list and stay tuned for more information.