Looking for Love Until it Found me by Tessa Hopman
Have you ever felt condemned or judged before? Let me tell you, my friend… That's not how Jesus sees you!
When I moved to America for my last year of high school, I was broken. I grew up in a household where I was made to feel too much and not enough at the same time. The sad thing is my parents didn't even do it on purpose! My dad was a workaholic, choosing work over his family, and my mom left when I was six, not realizing that she wasn't just leaving my workaholic dad; she was leaving me too.
As a result, I went looking for love in all the wrong places. I started going out a lot, drinking, getting into bed with everyone who showed me any sort of attention, which I mistakenly took for love.
When I started my senior year in Mobile, Alabama, I was dragging all the past mistakes and unresolved hurt with me. When I gave my life to Jesus, I did so because He loved me unconditionally and did not even see my sins. He saw me as pure and righteous – a child of God.
However, when humans come in, mistakes are made. So, this unconditional, non-judgemental love I received from my saviour was not the attitude I received from the church. I was met with silent judgment because of my still prevalent and obvious worldly behaviour and felt condemned for my sins, even though the Bible tells me they have been forgiven and forgotten by God.
Just like my parents, they didn't even do it on purpose! They had every good intention; they were just going at it the wrong way. And maybe, like me, you have been hurt, lost faith, or even moved away from God altogether because of this.
I pray my story today will encourage you, that's not God! He showed me over the next 14 years how much He loves me, that He has good plans for me, that He is always with me, and that He is not angry with me, nor does He condemn me. It is in that knowledge I started changing from the inside out because of my Father's love for me, and the chains of sin and bondage started to break off.
When I changed my focus from my imperfect self and from my sin to Jesus and His perfect acceptance, love, and plan for me, everything changed.
What does being FREED mean to you?
Knowing that I am not perfect and don't have to be. Despite not being perfect, I am still loved unconditionally.
What are you FREED from?
Guilt and shame, holding me back from who I was created to be and the purpose set before me. Free from trying to carry the weight of the world on my own. For God says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
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