Mark Sorensen In his book, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment With the Wisdom of God, Tim Keller observes that,
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”
I loved this quote. You know, there’s something wonderful yet strangely scary about the idea of being “fully known,” isn’t there? It’s wonderful in the sense that someone could know the real you – the good, the bad, the pieces that are smooth and the pieces that are tattered and rough – and love you in spite of it all. Yet, there’s always that fear of rejection, of judgment, of shame. Let’s be honest. Shame is a rock that the devil loves to throw at God’s people. Shame slithered into the garden on the back of the snake in Genesis 3 and it continues to worm its way into the lives of God’s people, threatening to devour anyone willing to believe it’s lies of our unworthiness.
Perhaps you’ve been there. Perhaps you’re there now.
If this is you, can I encourage you for just a moment? Have hope. God is still in the business of breathing life and worthiness into His people. If shame is attacking you today, remember this: the cross of Jesus Christ is a shame killer and a necessary reminder that God demonstrates His love for us in this: “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Listen, it wasn’t the weight of our sin that held Jesus to that cross, it was the weight of God’s love.
So, remember: you’re seen and you’re loved.
Let that truth soak in and take precedence in whatever situation you stand in the midst of today.
