The Silent Struggle Within the Human Heart
1.1 – The Question That Haunts the Soul
“Dear God, if You love me… why can’t I feel it?”
This isn’t a question of theology.
It’s a cry from the soul.
An ache that lives inside countless hearts—even those who believe.
We sing about God’s love. We read Scriptures about it.
We tell others, “God loves you.”
But when the lights go off and silence falls, many still whisper in the dark:
“Then why can’t I receive it?”
The answer isn’t always simple. But it is deeply human. Let’s begin a journey to uncover it—layer by layer.
◆ 1.2 – We’ve Been Taught to Earn Love, Not Receive It
From childhood, we are trained to perform for acceptance:
- Get good grades to be praised.
- Obey rules to be approved.
- Be strong, be good, don’t cry.
So when we hear, “God loves you unconditionally,” something inside resists.
We think: “Surely, I must prove myself first.”
But God’s love isn’t transactional.
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
– Ephesians 2:8
His love is not a payment for performance. It’s a gift for the broken.
But we’ve been so trained to earn approval that free love feels… suspicious.
◆ 1.3 – Shame Is a Silent Wall
Shame whispers: “You’re not good enough.”
Not good enough to be loved. Not holy enough to be chosen. Not pure enough to be embraced.
It reminds you of your:
- Past sins
- Addictions
- Failures
- Secret thoughts
You may try to hide behind church attendance, serving others, or even ministry. But inside, shame keeps saying:
“If God really knew me… He would walk away.”
But here’s the truth:
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
– Romans 5:8
God doesn’t love the future version of you.
He loves you now.
Messy. Unfinished. Tired. Weary. Struggling.
You.
◆ 1.4 – We Fear Rejection… Even from God
Many of us have experienced painful rejection—by parents, friends, lovers, or even church leaders. So we build walls.
We protect our hearts with statements like:
- “I’m fine on my own.”
- “I can’t afford to get hurt again.”
- “It’s safer not to expect love.”
And though we may not admit it, we fear that God might reject us too.
But Scripture tells a different story:
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
– Hebrews 13:5
God is not waiting to reject you.
He is waiting to embrace you.
◆ 1.5 – We Confuse God’s Love with Human Love
Our experience of love has been:
- Conditional
- Flawed
- Selfish
- Abusive (for some)
So when we think of God’s love, we unconsciously project our wounds onto Him.
We think:
- God loves me when I behave.
- God withdraws when I sin.
- God is disappointed in me.
But God’s love is not human love. It is perfect.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
– Psalm 103:8
His love is not based on your actions but on His nature.
And His nature is faithful, steadfast, unchanging.
◆ 1.6 – We Don’t Feel Worthy of Such Love
Maybe your story is filled with:
- Abuse
- Abandonment
- Moral failure
- Addiction
- Betrayal
You might believe in Jesus, but deep down you say:
“I don’t deserve to be loved like this.”
But that’s exactly the point.
God’s love isn’t something you deserve. It’s something you’re offered.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
– 1 John 3:1
You are not just tolerated.
You are invited.
You are not merely accepted—you are adopted.
◆ 1.7 – We Are Afraid to Be Fully Known
Receiving perfect love means being fully seen.
And that’s terrifying.
What if God really sees:
- Your bitterness
- Your jealousy
- Your lust
- Your pride
- Your secrets
He does. And He doesn’t flinch.
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.”
– Psalm 139:1
God knows the ugliest parts of you—and He still chooses you.
His love sees all and still stays.
◆ 1.8 – Stillness Feels Foreign
God’s love is often felt in silence. In stillness. In sacred slowness.
But we live in a world of:
- Noise
- Notifications
- Distractions
- Deadlines
Our hearts are not trained for stillness. And in the absence of noise, our pain surfaces. That’s where God meets us.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
– Psalm 46:10
To receive love, you don’t need to strive.
You just need to be still.
And open.
It’s not that God’s love is distant.
It’s that our hearts are wounded.
Receiving love means opening our deepest places to God.
It means daring to believe what seems impossible:
That God loves us. Really loves us. Without condition. Without demand. Without limit.
Not just in theory. But personally.
Today. Now. Just as we are.
Explore the raw emotional and spiritual struggle of receiving God’s perfect love. Part 1 of a powerful series reveals why shame, fear, and wounds make divine love hard to accept—and how healing begins.
👇 Tap one that speaks to your heart:
🕊️ I want to receive God’s love
💔 I struggle with shame
🙇♂️ I feel unworthy
🙏 I long for healing
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments!
📢 Call to Action
Has this touched your heart?
✅ Share this article with someone who needs it
✅ Leave a comment on our website
✅ Send us a message—someone is here to pray with you
✅ Read Part 2 when ready
💬 Reflection Questions:
- What’s one past wound that might be blocking you from receiving love?
- How do you personally view God’s love—intellectual or experiential?
- What would it look like to sit still and let God love you today?
You are not too far gone.
You are not too broken.
You are not too sinful.
Jesus Christ died for you—not just to save you from hell, but to bring you into perfect love.
“Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
– John 3:16
Receive His love. Begin again. Today.
May the grace of God surround your heart.
May His love break every lie you’ve believed.
May His Spirit whisper:
“You are My beloved. I see you. I choose you. I love you.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏
Part 2 – The War Between the Mind and the Heart
◆ 2.1 – When Truth Doesn’t Reach the Soul
You may know the truth:
- God is love.
- God loves me.
- God’s love is unconditional.
But if you’re honest… it hasn’t sunk in.
It’s like knowing the ocean exists, but never feeling the waves touch your skin.
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
– Matthew 15:8
We know about God’s love intellectually. But the heart often feels untouched, unloved, unchanged.
This reveals the war between the head and the heart.
◆ 2.2 – The Mind Is Logical. Love Is Not.
Our minds want formulas:
- If I do good = I get love.
- If I mess up = I lose love.
But God’s love shatters this.
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
– Isaiah 55:8
God’s love doesn’t fit into our mental boxes.
It’s too wild. Too free. Too undeserved.
And because we can’t explain it, we struggle to experience it.
◆ 2.3 – We Fear Love That Cannot Be Controlled
We can control conditional love:
- Be good, stay accepted.
- Be bad, get rejected.
But what do you do with a love that won’t leave, even when you fail?
It’s terrifying. Vulnerable. Unsafe to the flesh.
So we push back, subconsciously thinking:
“If I receive this love… I might lose control.”
But the truth is:
God’s love is not meant to be controlled. It’s meant to be surrendered to.
◆ 2.4 – Trauma Teaches Us to Numb, Not to Receive
If you’ve faced:
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Abandonment
- Betrayal
Then receiving can feel unsafe.
In trauma, your body learns:
“Feeling is dangerous.”
So you shut down.
Even when God pours His love toward you, your nervous system says:
- “Don’t feel it.”
- “It’s too much.”
- “It won’t last.”
But Jesus came to heal even that.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
– Psalm 147:3
◆ 2.5 – Lies We Believe About God
Deep within, many carry toxic lies:
- “God is angry with me.”
- “God tolerates me but doesn’t delight in me.”
- “God will leave if I fail again.”
These lies don’t just block love—they replace it.
Until they are brought to the light, the true love of God will always feel distant.
Ask yourself:
What lie about God have I unconsciously believed?
Because to receive real love, false beliefs must die.
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
– John 8:32
◆ 2.6 – Religion Without Relationship
Sometimes, the church teaches obedience and sacrifice, but forgets to teach intimacy.
You can:
- Read the Bible
- Serve in ministry
- Lead others to Christ
And still feel unloved… because you’ve never learned to sit at Jesus’ feet and simply be loved.
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”
– Luke 10:41-42
Doing for God cannot replace being with God.
◆ 2.7 – Love Must Be Received Like a Child
Adults complicate things.
Children don’t.
Children:
- Trust easily
- Laugh freely
- Receive joyfully
- Run into the arms of love
Jesus said:
“Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
– Matthew 18:3
To receive perfect love, we must unlearn pride, fear, and control—and become like children again.
◆ 2.8 – God’s Love Feels Too Good to Be True
We live in a world of:
- Betrayals
- Broken promises
- Conditional affection
So when we encounter a love that is:
✅ Steadfast
✅ Sacrificial
✅ Relentless
✅ Pure
…it feels impossible.
But that is exactly what God offers.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.”
– Isaiah 54:10
God’s love is not too good to be true.
It is so good that it must be true.
Receiving love is not about learning something new—it’s about unlearning the lies we’ve believed for years.
God’s love is knocking.
Not just at your mind, but at your heart.
Will you let Him in?
Part 2 of the “Dear God” series explores the inner war between the head and the heart. Discover why trauma, lies, and control block God’s love—and how truth and healing invite it in.
💭 I battle between mind and heart
🔒 I find it hard to let God in
🧠 I overthink God’s love
💖 I want to receive freely
💬 Comment your thoughts below!
📢 Call to Action
✅ Share this with someone who struggles to receive love
✅ Leave a comment at gracetogospel.com
✅ Bookmark this and re-read slowly
✅ Stay tuned for Part 3 – where we’ll go deeper into healing and renewal
💬 Reflection Questions:
- Have you ever tried to earn God’s love through performance?
- What lies about God still affect your heart’s ability to receive?
- What would it take for you to surrender control and simply be loved?
You do not need to fix yourself to come to Jesus.
You simply need to come.
Jesus died not to improve your behavior but to bring you home to the Father’s heart.
Receive Him.
He is ready.
May your mind be renewed and your heart awakened.
May every lie that blocks love be torn down.
May you receive—fully, deeply, freely—the perfect love of God.
In Jesus’ name. Amen. 🙏
Part 3 – Breaking the Barriers: The Path to Receiving Divine Love
◆ 3.1 – God Is Not in a Hurry
Our generation is fast.
We scroll, swipe, download, skip, and speed through everything.
But God doesn’t work that way.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.”
– 2 Peter 3:9
God is not hurried.
And neither is love.
Receiving God’s love is not about a spiritual high in a moment—it’s about learning to walk slowly with Him.
◆ 3.2 – Love Is Not a Feeling—It’s a Person
We often chase the feeling of love:
- Goosebumps in worship
- Tears during prayer
- A deep sense of peace
But those feelings fade.
Love is not merely a feeling—it is a Person.
“God is love.”
– 1 John 4:8
Jesus didn’t say, “I came to give you feelings.”
He said, “Come to me.”
Receiving God’s love means receiving Him, not just what He gives.
◆ 3.3 – Healing the Wounds That Block Love
Many people pray:
“God, show me Your love.”
But love doesn’t land on a wounded soul until the wounds are touched and healed.
Examples of wounds that block love:
- ✖ Father wound (neglect, absence, criticism)
- ✖ Church wound (legalism, rejection)
- ✖ Identity wound (shame, insecurity)
Jesus doesn’t avoid wounds—He enters them.
“By His wounds we are healed.”
– Isaiah 53:5
He’s not waiting for you to hide your pain.
He’s waiting for you to bring it to Him.
◆ 3.4 – The Cross Is Proof That You Are Loved
The Cross is not just a symbol of salvation.
It is the eternal evidence of how far love was willing to go—for you.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
– John 15:13
Whenever you doubt His love,
look at the Cross.
Let it speak louder than:
- Your emotions
- Your past
- Your shame
- Your questions
You are loved. Fully. Freely. Forever.
◆ 3.5 – The Holy Spirit: The Experience of God’s Love
God’s love is not just a truth to believe.
It’s an experience to live in.
“God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
– Romans 5:5
You don’t have to manufacture the experience.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the love of the Father.
Say this simple prayer:
“Holy Spirit, pour the Father’s love into my heart.
Heal the places where I’ve resisted it.
Let me experience what I’ve only known in theory.
Amen.”
◆ 3.6 – Staying Still Long Enough to Be Loved
We are so used to doing, fixing, and moving that we’ve forgotten how to receive.
Love requires stillness.
Like a child curled in a parent’s arms, love cannot be rushed.
Try this spiritual exercise:
- Turn off all distractions.
- Sit in silence.
- Repeat slowly:
“Abba, I receive Your love.”
- Let His presence minister to your heart.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”
– Psalm 37:7
◆ 3.7 – Receiving Love Is a Daily Choice
You might receive God’s love once… and then feel distant again.
That doesn’t mean you failed.
It means love is a daily invitation.
Each morning, before the world speaks, let God speak love over you:
- “You are Mine.”
- “I delight in you.”
- “You are not a mistake.”
- “You are forgiven.”
- “You are loved.”
Declare it:
“Today, I choose to live loved.”
◆ 3.8 – From Receiving to Resting
The final step is rest.
Not striving. Not trying to earn.
But resting in this truth:
“I am fully known and fully loved by God.”
You don’t have to prove anything.
You don’t have to perform.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
– Matthew 11:28
Let your soul exhale.
The love of God is not far.
It’s not hidden. It’s not withheld.
It’s here.
If you’ve struggled to receive it, know this:
It’s not because you are unworthy.
It’s because love requires trust, stillness, and healing.
And God is committed to walking that journey with you.
Part 3 of the “Dear God” series dives into how to truly receive God’s love by healing wounds, embracing the cross, and learning to rest in the truth. A powerful and healing journey awaits.
🕊️ I want to rest in His love
💔 I carry wounds that block love
🔥 I believe the Cross proves I’m loved
🌊 I want to experience the Holy Spirit’s love
💬 Share your journey in the comments!
📢 Call to Action
✅ Share this with someone who needs healing love
✅ Visit gracetogospel.com for more life-giving messages
✅ Reflect on Parts 1–3 slowly
✅ Leave a testimony—your story matters
✅ Get ready for Part 4 coming soon!
💬 Reflection Questions:
- What area of your life still needs healing to receive love fully?
- Have you allowed the Cross to silence the lies of shame?
- Can you commit to five minutes of stillness with God today?
Jesus didn’t just die to save your soul.
He died to bring you into love—a love that heals, restores, and secures you forever.
“In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.”
– Ephesians 1:5
Say yes to this love today.
May the Father’s love surround you.
May the wounds of your past lose their power.
May the Spirit fill you with peace.
May you live every day knowing—
You are seen. You are safe. You are loved.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏
Why is it so hard to receive God’s perfect love? Dive into this 3-part series exploring the mental, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep us from experiencing divine love. Discover healing, truth, and the gentle pursuit of a relentless God who won’t stop loving you.Struggling to feel God’s love? Discover why and how to receive His healing love today. Click to experience His embrace.
👇 Tap your heart’s response:
- 💭 I struggle to receive love from God
- 🔒 My heart feels blocked and guarded
- 🌿 I desire healing from past wounds
- 💖 I want to live daily in God’s love
- 🕊️ I want to rest in the Father’s arms
- ✝️ The Cross is my proof of love
- 🧎♂️ I surrender to divine love today
Call to Action – What You Can Do Now
- 🔄 Share this message with someone who needs to hear about God’s love.
- 💬 Comment your thoughts or testimony on GraceToGospel.com – your story might heal someone else.
- 📖 Meditate on the scriptures mentioned in each part daily.
- 🎧 Spend 5 minutes in silence with God. No words, just presence.
- ✍️ Write down any lie you’ve believed about God, and speak the truth over it.
- 📩 Subscribe for upcoming articles and messages that deepen your spiritual life.
- 🔔 Don’t miss Part 4 – it’s going to lead you even deeper into receiving God’s love through renewed identity.
💬 Discussion & Reflection Questions
Reflect privately or share in a group discussion:
- What early life experiences shaped how you see love and God?
- Do you trust God’s love more in your mind or in your heart? Why?
- What lie about God’s nature have you unconsciously believed?
- What does it feel like to sit still and let God love you without “doing” anything?
- How has your view of the Cross changed as you understand God’s love more deeply?
- What does it look like for you to “live loved” every day?
✝️ Message of Salvation – The Greatest Act of Love
Dear reader,
You were never meant to carry the weight of shame, guilt, or rejection.
That’s why Jesus came—to take it from you and replace it with His perfect love.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
You don’t have to earn it. Just receive it.
Say this prayer:
“Jesus, I’ve been trying to live on my own. I’ve doubted Your love. But today, I receive it. I accept Your sacrifice on the Cross. I believe You rose again. Make me new. Heal my heart. Fill me with Your love. Amen.”
If you prayed that from your heart — welcome home. You are now a child of God.
May the perfect love of the Father cast out all fear in your heart.
May every lie that hinders love be broken in Jesus’ name.
May you walk forward not as a slave, but as a beloved child.
May the Holy Spirit fill you with peace, joy, healing, and freedom.
May the love, grace, and presence of God remain with you always. Amen. 🙏
