I’d be more attractive if I lost fifteen pounds. I’m a terrible wife because my house isn’t always clean like my neighbor’s. I’d be a better mom if I brought homemade treats to the party.
Sound familiar? We all have voices in our head that criticize, complain, and compare. Things that make us feel less important or less accomplished than other people.
Or maybe those voices sound more like this: I’ve done so many things wrong, there’s no hope to get it right. I can’t return to God after what I did. I’m not worthy of love. I’m not worthy of forgiveness.
It can be tempting to believe the lies we hear in our heads. They sound sensible. They sound objective. We might even convince ourselves they’re for our own good, to help us become better people.
When we’re focused on our perceived failures, we’re like hamsters in a wheel, spinning around and going nowhere. Our eyes move away from God as we pursue ways to build ourselves back up: start a diet, crash-clean the house, stay up all night baking. Or maybe it’s deeper. Maybe we do things to prove ourselves to God: go to church three times a week, give to charity, go on missions.
There’s nothing wrong about baking, cleaning, going to church, or doing missionarywork. They are all good things. But simply doing them doesn’t make us better people. They don’t make God love us anymore than He did before.
When we recognize those criticisms in our head as the lies they are, only then can we can hear the truth of God’s promises: I love you. I will care for you. I will never leave you or forsake you. You are my child. Nothing can ever separate you from My love.
The voice of the enemy tears down. The voice of Truth builds up. Which will you choose to listen to today?
Let’s Talk: How do you pick out the voice of Truth among all the noise?
Carla Laureano has held many job titles—professional marketer, small business consultant, and martial arts instructor—but writer is by far her favorite. She currently lives in Denver with her patient husband and two rambunctious sons, who know only that Mom’s work involves lots of coffee and talking to imaginary people.
Carla’s debut contemporary romance novel, Five Days in Skye, is available next month from David C Cook. You can connect with her at www.carlalaureano.com.
