My Struggle to Receive God’s Loving Acceptance

I lived my whole life with a deep passion for growth and transformation. But there were many struggles I could not shake off right away. Some never seemed to stop. The more I tried, the worse it got at times.

I carried a deep anger, continually beating myself up for the lack of progress I seemed to be manifesting. Meanwhile, I was relentlessly hard on myself in how I evaluated my journey.

After years of living like this, the frustration led me to face myself in a whole new way. I wanted results, but I did not love myself. God entered into my pain to teach me how to see myself with new eyes.

I didn’t know how to be ok with not being ok. In my conditioning, it was unacceptable. It felt like failure. So, for most of my life, I built a foundation on making sure I was “good” for people. I didn’t know how to make room for weakness, mistakes and struggle, without feeling deep shame and embarrassment.

I felt like when I wasn’t “good,” a giant spotlight was on me, as if everyone was gasping at the sight of, “Mark’s not doing good!” I always felt I had to be strong for everyone. So, when I was not, I didn’t know how to manifest it in a healthy way.

When I learned to experience self-compassion, God’s love became more real to me. This loving acceptance gave me a powerful glimpse of the Father’s perspective over my life and battles. It also became a major turning point for growth and empowered decisions. I was able to see life with greater clarity. Love gave me that ability.

[keithandtricia]

I like the idea of so many people in the Bible mess up and still get to experience great things with God.

[EquippedForHim]

Christians! Pray for me, for healing from abuse as a child and some strongholds. Please and thank you, if you have requests let me know. Mark, say a prayer for me and thank you for your service to The LORD.

[tinroofduo]

Here's what hit me: If I think I need to do everything right, then there's no room for God, Jesus, and His grace. "Apart from me you can do nothing." So sitting in my performance guilt means I'm not leaving room for God to work. Thanks for this word!

[zitroanor]

"My destiny can't be pinned on me doing everything right." Talk about taking the pressure off. TY

[ms]

two beliefs that block my acceptance of God's love: that I can't have what I didn't earn...and being open to love means being vulnerable and not safe

[realdocphil]

This is me!!!!.I didn't know what love really was....I had to receive God's love by Faith.

[danielbu]

As I was listening to this I had a breakthrough.

I've been frustrated the past week or so not feeling very connected to God, but I've seen it as an opportunity to trust regardless of how I feel at the time. (Edit: this includes experiences, too. FAITH in what GOD SAYS, not what our feelings or past experiences say).

As you were talking, suddenly the parable of abiding in the vine blew open for me.

Abiding in Jesus means trusting. Period.

As I learned last week, not trusting IS disobedience. The obedience God desires (the work of the Father John 6:29) is to trust the one He sent. Trusting in Jesus and our acceptability because of what HE has done is being connected to the vine.

Then we can grow in trust which is always being urged by NT writers (growing and being pruned for more growth). And as we grow in trust and in love for God and man we naturally bear more good fruit (good works).

How freeing! I'm just going to focus now on trusting Jesus in all things and spending time with him trusting him to lead me into greater fellowship and service should he deem me ready. Relationship comes first!

[FrankOakleyTheThird]

Wow. I’ve been praying to understand the Father’s love this week and every bit and word of this video I can relate to on a very deep level and this is 1000% what I needed to hear. Learning how to accept His love in the midst of the struggle, “…in my current state, apart of performance, achievement etc.” The Holy Spirit has pointed out to me to focus on His love and how I struggle with a disconnect with His love (don’t really know how to accept it at times, even as a believer). So this was a very spot on message. Thank you for sharing your testimony and experience in this area! 💯🙏🏾

[donidan]

Been going through this season of God chiseling away on me and I felt that I had to perform perfectly before I'd get a breakthrough. Why couldn't I figure out how to be content? Or satisfied? Happy? I kept failing and failing, and I'd focus on the fail. I'd make my failures bigger than His grace. This message is exactly what I needed to hear. Self loathing is not the truth. The truth is, He loves me - every little detail of who I am. Stunning! Thank you for sharing your story!

[quin]

When i tell you this is exactly what im currently going through the obssessive thoughts the thinking trying to work in salvation when Jesus tells us to rest and accept love where you at its been like since 2020 a long time God spoke this to me the last week after going to church on my own for the first time through the pastor about receiving forgiveness receiving love and God would and is showing me this with jacob how he lied constantly but that didn’t determine Gods blessings over his life and the Love of God, God still loved him the same.

[thelordsportion]

Wow... This is so healing. Lord help me receive your Love so I can Love like You.

[freetobememe]

Absolutely, exactly what I feel. Its going.
Just going to let God Love me.

[mmowec]

The timing of can't describe how perfect this timing is. This entire video is ME. I couldn't have needed this at a more opportune time. Thank you. This topic makes me so emotional. Today I have felt so much pressure to be "perfect ". Every day really

So glad you are back! Was just saying I hope Mark returns soon. Hope you had an amazing Sabbatical 🙂

[jewishbride]

I bind one to receive all of God his love for one in my life, the lives of my family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquintances, opponents and the body of Christ without thinking this love can be earned, binding myself not to be unequally yoked with and have any common share with those who do not can accept God his love without the thought this love has be earned, in accordance with this word and ephesians 2:8-9, john 15:12, 2 corinthians 6:14-18 in the name and blood of Jesus Christ, amen and hallelujah!

[Loved]

Mark thanks for what you do! Your are bold and humble to share your story and help me in my journey of receiving God’s love. Bless you brother.

[dianedupuis]

wOW!! hit the nail on the head! this is me. Verbal abuse an rejection have done me in!!!im 75 now, an still no breadthru😢PLS...NEED PRAYER..im here an STUCK.. im ocd an ruminate. It just feels all to much, so i just push it DOWN .i wish i could get healed from this💔

[Smaxsun]

I jus have to say this video changed my life. It explains exactly what I thought of myself and even though I loved god I couldn’t accept him loving me. Thank you so much! Your ministry is so needed!

[nelisiweselulu]

Wow, wow, wow ! Thank you sir for this . Found myself sobbing, you've accurately described how I've been feeling throughout my existence .

[babsskett]

Many thanks for this encouraging message, Mark.
God bless.x

[fireponyyy]

God bless you Mark, I really needed to hear this. Thank you.