I remember the way I used to view faith and others' connections to Jesus. I didn’t get it, I didn’t get them, and I judged it. But those living through Him didn’t care about my judgements. The people who have stood beside their faith despite the interrogations of hearts stuck in chains are the ones who pushed me to be strong enough to pursue my own relationship with God, no matter my own fears.

God is bigger than those.

He is bigger than the way people used to see me. He is bigger than the way I used to see myself. He is bigger than the hole we try to fill with the approval of others, and all the other fears that come along with “not being good enough.” And the truth is, if the people around you aren’t comfortable with the truth you live, those simply aren’t the ones who will help you grow your relationship with God every day.

Living in a culture of standards, demands, deadlines, and expectations dulls the spirit. We live for others—not in helping or loving, but in meeting the bar they have set for us. It’s the validation the human heart craves. Ah yes, I am smart enough—I’m smarter than her, anyway. I know I’m beautiful, because I’ve got a relationship to let me know every day.

A spurt of happiness within a day can come from feeling a part of something, no matter how you have to adjust to fit the bill. It can come from someone letting you know your worth in superficial values, and it comes from just about anything that feeds our desire to be good enough for our own standards. But what about God’s?

He is okay with our best. He is okay with our worst. He is okay with US.

Why not live for a love that can’t be ripped away by an insult or an “unlucky” moment? The one with no ego, no resentment. The standards of the human heart pull us away from the truth, and society can pull our minds towards worry and unworthiness.They pull us away from my own truth—that we are here to love each other, represent the love God has for us in everything we do, and look around and smile at all we are blessed enough to have.

Now that may be condensed, and there’s more to the path we go down when following Him. But looking back at how lost I was—I am thankful for the example set by those of strong hearts and faith in times when I just didn’t get it…because their spirit pulled me to knowing who I am in God.

So let’s remember: He is bigger than anyone who may be struggling to find the truth themselves (just like I was). Let’s shamelessly show the world the beauty of our truth. Let’s live for the love that will never fail.