Already Loved
A couple of weekends ago, I had my daughter Nolyn with me at the office. While I was running around, trying to finish up preparations for an event, she left a note on my door. When she came to find me, she said, “I left a note on your door for you. I think you should read it.”
It read: You’re already loved.
I stood there, staring at those words. In that moment, it felt like God Himself was speaking directly to me through her.
I needed that reminder. I had been prepping gift bags, double-checking details, printing things, and going back and forth about the contents, trying to make sure everything was perfect. I was caught up in all the busy work, questioning if it was good enough, ultimately, if I was good enough.
But when I read those words, it was like God was gently telling me, “You don’t have to do all of this. You’re already loved.”
The Cycle of Striving
That moment opened my eyes to how much striving has become a part of my life. Striving isn’t just about working hard—it’s about trying to prove something.
It’s when you push yourself to do more, be more, and make sure everything looks perfect—because maybe then you’ll feel worthy, accomplished, or secure. It’s the pressure to do all the things and do them flawlessly.
For me, striving looks like this:
Obsessing over little details, spending hours trying to make something “perfect” when good enough would’ve been more than enough.
Overcommitting—saying yes to more than I can handle—because I’m afraid of letting someone down.
Cleaning the entire house in a whirlwind, even when I’m completely exhausted, because I’ve let it go for too long and feel like I need to “make up” for it.
Pushing myself to outdo my own work, driven by the imposter syndrome I’ve been wrestling with for years, and the nagging thought that I should be doing better.
And if I’m honest? I’m tired. Striving takes so much energy, and no matter how much I do, it never feels like enough.
What God Was Saying Through That Note
“You’re already loved.”
In the middle of me doing the most—trying to make everything perfect—God interrupted me with this simple truth. He reminded me that my worth isn’t tied to how much I accomplish, how flawless I make an event, or how perfectly I juggle everything in my life.
God’s love for me isn’t based on my performance. It’s not something I have to earn through endless effort or striving. It’s already mine.
That moment with Nolyn’s note wasn’t just sweet—it was holy. It was God stepping into the middle of my busy, frantic day to remind me: Stop. You don’t have to do all this to be loved.
Striving vs. Resting in God’s Love
Striving is exhausting because it’s rooted in the belief that we need to do more to be enough. But God’s love completely flips that narrative. It says:
“You’re already enough, because I made you enough.”
One verse that keeps me grounded is Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
When I read that verse, it reminds me that the things I often strive for—perfection, accomplishment, approval—aren’t what matter most. What matters is that I am already loved by God, not because of what I do, but because of who He is.
That truth is what interrupts striving. It’s what gives me permission to pause, take a deep breath, and remember that my worth doesn’t come from what I accomplish.
Practical Ways to Let Go of Striving
Letting go of striving doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process, and I’m still learning. But here are a few steps that are helping me:
Pause and Reflect
When I catch myself in the middle of striving—when I’m pushing myself too hard or trying to prove something—I take a moment to stop. I ask myself:Why am I doing this?
Am I trying to prove something, or can I let it be enough as it is?
Focus on What Really Matters
Not everything has to be perfect to be meaningful. I’m learning to focus on the heart of things instead of the details that don’t really matter.Anchor in Truth
I remind myself of simple truths, like “You’re already loved.” Verses like Romans 8:38-39 help me remember that nothing can separate me from God’s love.Choose Rest
Rest isn’t laziness—it’s an act of trust. It’s choosing to believe that God can handle the things I can’t, and that my worth isn’t tied to how much I get done.
Encouragement for You
If you find yourself in the same cycle of striving—pushing, performing, trying to do it all—I want to remind you of what God reminded me:
You’re already loved.
Right now, in the middle of your busy day, God sees you. He knows everything you’re juggling and how much you care. But He’s not asking you to prove anything to Him. His love for you isn’t tied to your performance. It’s already yours.
Let this truth interrupt your striving today. Take a moment to pause, breathe, and rest in the knowledge that you are enough—not because of what you do, but because of who you are in Him.
You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to make it perfect. You are loved, seen, and valued, just as you are.
