Faith & Love: Learning to Love Yourself Through Christ
Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that can either feel sweet or suffocating. It’s everywhere- flowers, chocolates, couples posting their “forever” love stories online. And if you’re not in that picture-perfect relationship, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. But here’s the truth.
You are not unlovable. You are not forgotten. You don’t need a relationship status to define your worth.
For years, I struggled with this. I looked for love in all the wrong places, thinking if I could just find the right person, I would finally feel whole. But no relationship could fill the hole inside me. No person could fix what was broken in me.
The only one who ever could was Jesus.
Jesus Loved You First
We live in a world that tells us we need to earn love. Be prettier, be smarter, be more successful. Be better. But Jesus didn’t wait for you to be perfect. He didn’t love you because of what you bring to the table. He loved you before you ever knew Him. Before you could love yourself.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
That’s real love. It’s not based on performance. It’s not conditional. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t walk away when you mess up.
So why is it so hard to love ourselves the way Jesus loves us?
The Lies We Believe
Somewhere along the way, we picked up lies about ourselves. Maybe someone told you that you weren’t enough. Maybe life has knocked you down so many times that you started believing it. Maybe your past mistakes keep you trapped in guilt, making you feel unworthy of anything good.
I get it. I’ve been there.
But those thoughts? Those lies? They are not from God.
The enemy wants to keep you believing you are too broken to be loved. He wants to keep you stuck in shame and self-hate. Because when you start believing what God actually says about you, you become dangerous to the darkness.
Loving Yourself Through Christ
Loving yourself like Jesus loves you isn’t about self-obsession. It’s about seeing yourself the way He does. Whole. Redeemed. Worth dying for.
Here’s what that looks like in real life.
1. Forgive Yourself
Jesus already has. So why are you still holding on to it? Stop letting your past define your future. You are not your mistakes. You are His.
2. Speak Truth Over Yourself
Your words hold power. If you constantly tell yourself you’re not good enough, you’ll start believing it. Replace the lies with truth. Speak life over yourself. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are loved. You are chosen.
3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Social media is a highlight reel. You’re seeing the best parts of people’s lives, not their struggles. Stop measuring your worth by someone else’s filtered version of reality. Your story is yours, and God is writing something powerful with it.
4. Set Boundaries
Loving yourself means recognizing when something or someone is pulling you away from God’s best for you. It’s okay to walk away from toxic relationships. It’s okay to say no. Protect your peace.
5. Lean Into Grace
You are never going to have it all together. But you don’t have to. Jesus fills the gaps. You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love. You already are.
You Are Already Loved
If you take nothing else from this, hear me when I say this.
You don’t have to earn God’s love. You don’t have to prove yourself.
You are already loved. Already chosen. Already enough.
So this Valentine’s Day, instead of chasing after the kind of love that fades, rest in the love that never will.
Jesus sees you. Jesus loves you.
Now it’s time to love yourself the same way.
