God Loves The Present You
We are prone to value ourselves based on our deepest insecurities. So we will present a version of ourselves to others that we think they will like. We add layer upon layer until we feel safe.
It's hard to truly feel loved and valued though, when you've distanced yourself from who you truly are. It's like being loved while wearing a mask. You will always wonder if you removed the mask, would they still love you? Or would they be repulsed?
It can be scary to be vulnerable. But vulnerability is the only avenue to feel deeply loved.
One of the beauties of friendship is that we begin to see, often slowly, that we can be loved and valued for who we actually are. Good friends say: “Take off the mask, I want the real you.”
It's the same with God. Yes, He wants us to be growing. But He is not in love with a future version of you. And neither should we as friends be.
Thankful for his grace,
Josh.