You May Feel Unworthy, But God

 

 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV)

Have you ever looked at your past and thought, “There’s no way God could love someone like me”? Have you ever felt unworthy of God’s love? Maybe the guilt of past decisions still lingers. Maybe you’ve walked away from God before—or perhaps you’ve never felt close to Him at all. At times, feelings of unworthiness can grip us so tightly that they silence our prayers, isolate us from Christian community, and convince us that we are beyond redemption. If so, you’re not alone. But the heart of the gospel is this: God didn’t wait for you to become lovable before He loved you.

But God. These two words in Romans 5:8 mark a turning point, not just in Scripture, but in the story of every believer. Paul writes that we were weak, ungodly, sinners, and even enemies of God. That’s a sobering diagnosis of the human heart—and not one we like to admit. But the Scripture doesn’t stop there. It doesn’t leave us in our brokenness. Instead, it lifts our eyes to the cross, where the most powerful demonstration of love took place.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus didn’t die for perfect people. He didn’t come for the already-cleaned-up or spiritually polished. He came for the broken, the outcast, the ashamed, the guilty—He came for us in our *worst* condition. His sacrifice wasn’t a response to our goodness; it was a response to our need. His love wasn’t earned; it was given.

The truth is none of us are worthy of God’s love on our own. That’s why grace is so amazing. The cross didn’t happen because we were lovable—but because God is love. The weight of our sin was so great that only the death of God’s Son could pay for it. But even more powerful than the reality of our sin is the reality of God’s mercy.

This love transforms us. It frees us from shame. It gives us a new identity—not based on what we’ve done, but on what Christ has done for us. It gives us boldness to approach God, not as strangers or failures, but as forgiven sons and daughters.

So today, if you’re feeling unworthy—remember this truth: remember the gospel. Remember the cross. Remember that God loved you at your worst, and nothing can separate you from that love. You don’t need to earn His affection. Your salvation is not based on your performance but on the cross, where love, justice, and mercy meet. You are forgiven, welcomed, and eternally secure—not because you are good, but because God is. You simply need to receive it.

Take a moment to think about the areas of your life where shame still speaks loudly. Then speak this truth over yourself: “But God loved me there. Even there.”

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that Your love doesn’t wait for me to get it right. Thank You that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. Help me to trust in that love today, to let go of shame, and to live in the freedom Your grace provides. In Jesus’ name, Amen.