I feel so unworthy. Will God accept me?
The Devotional Answer
The very foundation of the Christian faith is that God accepts you in your unworthiness. In fact, if you feel unworthy, you have correctly understood the Gospel! If you could earn God's acceptance, you wouldn't need a Savior.
The problem with feeling unworthy is that it often tricks us into focusing on our performance rather than on Christ’s perfection. Your unworthiness is real, but God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice are greater.
Your acceptance is based entirely on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. When God looks at you, He sees the perfect righteousness of Jesus credited to your account. Your devotional response should be one of deep gratitude, not self-condemnation.
The Simple Answer
Yes, God absolutely accepts you.
Your feeling of unworthiness is accurate—none of us are worthy on our own merit. However, God does not accept you based on your feelings, your goodness, or your past performance; He accepts you based on faith in Jesus Christ.
You gave God your sin.
He gave you Christ’s righteousness.
Your acceptance is not a hope; it is a guaranteed promise for everyone who believes.
The Deeper Dive
The Bible uses powerful concepts to explain how we move from unworthiness to acceptance:
1. Justification (Declared Righteous)
The moment you put your faith in Jesus, God declares you "just" (or righteous) in His sight. This is a legal term, like a judge declaring a person "not guilty."
Romans 5:1 (NIV) says: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Justification means your standing before God is perfect, not because of your effort, but because the righteousness of Christ has been imputed (credited) to you.
2. The Great Exchange
The Gospel is based on a "Great Exchange": Jesus took the punishment for your sin, and in return, He gives you His perfect standing before God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV): "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
When you feel unworthy, remember this verse. You are accepted because you have become the righteousness of God in Christ. Your identity is now defined by Him, not by your past mistakes or current failures.
3. Fighting the Lie of Shame
The Devil and your own flesh want you to believe that your feelings of shame and guilt disqualify you. But guilt (knowing you did wrong) is only useful if it drives you to repentance and forgiveness.
Shame (feeling like you are wrong) is a lie meant to drive you away from God. When you feel shame, confess it, accept the forgiveness that is already yours in Christ, and remember your new identity as a beloved child of God.
God’s Assurance
God assures you that His acceptance is complete, irreversible, and unconditional—it does not depend on your feelings or performance.
"Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." — Romans 8:33-34 (ESV)
You are assured that if God justifies you, no feeling, no enemy, and no sin can condemn you.
Your Takeaway Thought
Acknowledge the feeling of unworthiness, but do not believe it has the final say. When that feeling creeps in, use it as a trigger to speak truth to yourself: "It is true, I am unworthy, but Jesus Christ is perfectly worthy, and His worthiness is mine."
Live today not as one trying to earn God’s love, but as one who has already received it fully and completely.
