What if you heard nothing but criticism growing up? What if sarcasm was the language of your household? Or, what if you were told repeatedly, you were defective? And worse yet, you believed it?

• You were such a bright son. How could you be so screwed-up now?
• I Thought you were smart. Why are you acting so stupid.
• You’re way too smart to act this stupid.
• You usually have some common sense. What you did makes no sense!
• Why are you playing dumb?
• You know better.
• You sound like an idiot.
• Are you trying to embarrass your mother and me?
• I don’t know if anyone can help you.
• I don’t want you to keep embarrass yourself.
• What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you be like your brother?
• I don’t know why you’re so messed up in the head.
• You’re never going to learn. No matter how much people try to teach you.
• When are you ever going to figure it out? I’m not going to be here forever.
• If you don’t know by now, you probably never will.

Close

What if the language of being defective is the foundation of your identity? How can you ever find peace, rest, or joy?

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. – 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NAS 1995)

Prayer

Father, thank you for your wonderful, restful love. Jesus thank you for your encouraging words and example. Holy Spirit thank you for guiding me into new truths including ones about how I am loved. Amen.

Bible

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)