We often project the character of who caused our wounds, onto the character of God.You may have been taught that we most commonly do this with how we experienced our parents, but it's bigger than that. The love of God is multifaceted. He is the perfect parent, friend, authority figure, etc. Regardless of where our wounds originate, if left unconfessed--and therfore  unhealed, they skew our perception of the nature of God. If you've been hurt in church or by a Christian in a leadership position, it complicates things even more.

Often times we don't realize that we project these experiences onto God, even as we seek Him. When this happens, our Christian walk begins to orbit around an unhealed wound and a skewed concept of the character of God developes. That's why many Christians believe that on some level they must earn God's love or get their lives in order before they can experience His presence.

Until we confess our unbelief in those areas, as we look to Christ, we will not see His blood and the authentic work it did on the cross. We will only see the blood of our own wounds, which has no power; rendering us with undressed, unhealed wounds, and terribly ineffective in the realm of discipleship to a world who projects its "Christian" wounds onto Christianity--a vicious cycle. I once did that myself.

I was hurt by a pastor when I was thirteen-years-old and it took me over twenty years to confess that wound to Christ. As Christians, how we treat people matters. Of course we make mistakes, but without confession, without the maturity required to discern the loving conviction of a Father who longs to forgive our sins, redeem us (and the people we've hurt), we are in danger of exhibiting a dim reflection of the love of God.

We cannot give what we have not fully received. If you're mad at God, tell Him. He's big and He can take it. If you've been betrayed by a loved one, tell Him. If you're afraid that He won't be there for you on an issue you're convinced He has overlooked, tell Him. Tell Him. Tell Him. Come to Him with a transparent heart. He sees it anyway. He's waiting for our confession. When we confess to God, we invite His power into that which has rendered us powerless. The truth, the beautiful truth rises in our hearts like the eastern sun in the morning, and from that moment on we are no longer bound to the lie.

The lie that says we don't matter. We're on our own. We don't deserve another chance. We could never heal. We will never love "right" or be loved "right."

Try it, you'll see. "And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free."

Okay, precious readers. I am serving this up over and over this year: read 1 Corinthians, chapter 13: What love is and what love isn't. That is the measuring stick for all Christians. If we will love that way, it will change our hearts, it will change our marriages, it will change our relationships, it will change the world. It will ready us for His return.

Read that first and then read John 8:31-32. "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (NKJV)

If you abide in the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, you are His disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth (about the nature of God), and it will set you free.