Occasionally, in the back of my mind, I detect this thought \u2014 an ungodly thought \u2014 that God doesn\u2019t really love me.<\/strong> It\u2019s a thought that says that I don\u2019t measure up and because of my failures, God would like to smack me. Hard. Now. Twice.<\/p>\n Now, before you say, \u201cSteve, I never have that thought; what\u2019s wrong with you!?\u201d think. Think about your own thought talk. When someone approaches you with a ministry opportunity, how do you respond? With confidence? Or with reluctance based in your own feelings of inadequacy? That\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about. Or what about those times you reflect on a conversation where you said the wrong thing and really hurt someone you were honestly trying to help? When you think about that, do you think to yourself, \u201cI am such an idiot! I should just keep my mouth shut! How can God put up with my stupidity!?\u201d That\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n I was thinking about where that voice comes from.<\/strong> It doesn\u2019t come from the pastor I had while growing up. He preached grace with clarity. Maybe it comes from teachers or youth leaders? Maybe I picked it up in the dorm at the Christian college I attended? (Late night freshman chats in dorms can be very good or very bad.) Maybe I picked it up at home?<\/p>\n I doubt it.<\/p>\n It was my wife who suggested something like this:<\/p>\n It came from the Garden, Steve. It\u2019s exactly what the serpent suggested to Eve. \u201cDid God really say\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Immediately, when Laurel suggested this, I new she was right. It\u2019s the enemy of our souls that makes us wonder if God really said what he said. It\u2019s the enemy who wants to convince us we are unloved.<\/p>\n This podcast is from a series on The Nature of Jesus. A series presented to help combat such lies when they come into your life. This message, in particular, is about Jesus\u2019 gentleness \u2014 and how he cares for you. May God embroider the truth of his love on your heart as you listen.<\/strong><\/p>\n