Beloved, Not Rejected
One of the greatest dangers in the spiritual life is self-rejection. When we say, “If people really knew me, they wouldn’t love me,” we choose the road toward darkness. Often we are made to believe that self-deprecation is a virtue, called humility. But humility is in reality the opposite of self-deprecation.
It is the grateful recognition that we are precious in God’s eyes and that all we are is a pure gift. To grow beyond self-rejection we must have the courage to listen to the voice calling us God’s beloved sons and daughters, and the determination always to live our lives according to this truth.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen,
Growing Beyond Self-Rejection
Henri Nouwen speaks tenderly to one of the deepest wounds many carry—especially those struggling with mental health or recovery: the belief that if others really knew us, they would turn away. But this is not humility; it is self-rejection, and it leads us further into shame and isolation. True humility begins not with loathing, but with love—God’s love. To live as God’s beloved is to accept that our worth isn’t based on how put-together we seem, but on the unchanging truth that we are precious in His eyes. It takes courage to believe this when our inner voices say otherwise. But every step toward that truth is a step into the light. Listen today for the voice that calls you beloved—and dare to believe it’s speaking to you. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics