When I think about how my relationship with Christ began, I can say this: I was raised in the church. I was saved at a young age. I knew a lot about religion when I was young, but something that I had much to learn about was Christ’s love for me.

I can say that I really struggled when I was striving for Jesus’ love. I was striving to be perfect, striving to earn that love that I had heard about while sitting in a church pew.

However, being that I am human and very, very far from perfect, I was incredibly discouraged when I simply couldn’t do “good.”

It was a long time before I realized (and, believe me, I am still in the process of realizing) that God’s love for me was more than enough, even when it feels like my walk with Him is in a downward spiral.

That kind of love that Jesus offers cannot be earned. It can only be given, and it is the sweetest gift that you could ever possibly receive. This doesn’t mean that I can simply throw caution to the wind and sin at will because my eternity is set in stone. Rather, it means that when I struggle, when I stray, I have Christ calling me back and loving me all the way.

Our straying from God’s path for our life does not affect His love for us. For a long time, I beat myself to death to do those things that society says make you a better person, a better Christian.

I was aiming for perfection, but my role is not to be perfect. My role is to show the transformation that Christ has made in my life.

Is there a change in my heart? Absolutely. I am a far cry from where I was two, three years ago. However, if you expect perfection from me, you would be profoundly disappointed.

I stray in so, so many ways, yet the one thing that remains constant is the love my King has for me.

The question then arises: how can I show that to others?

Well, it’s simple really.

I need to love others. Granted, my love will not be perfect, and my love is less than a speck of sand in comparison to God’s. But love, as God showed in my life, can and will make all of the difference.

You can be imperfect and still love others well. Love the easily lovable. But it is absolutely imperative to also love those who maybe aren’t so easy to love.

I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the rights and wrongs, the do’s and don’ts, of Christianity that we forget the very basis of it: love. People don’t go looking for another set of rules; they go looking for love.

People aren’t searching for religion; they are searching for relationships.

I am not perfect. I never will be perfect, and that’s okay. My walk with Christ has often been crooked because I am constantly in a battle with the humanity of my heart. Jesus shows the straight path, a path of love and goodness, and while I will strike out on that path for a while, I end up taking the turns that I design myself.

Nevertheless, Jesus chases after me. Though I take a path that He would not have for me, He never leaves me or says that there simply isn't enough love left to cover me.

There was love enough for the woman at the well. There was love enough for the leper. There was love enough for the blind man. Therefore, in spite of all my imperfections, I know that there is love enough for me.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." -Psalm 136:1.