Quench Your Thirst Thursday ~ Just As I Am

There is something incredibly powerful about being known completely and still being fully loved. In a world that often places value on appearance, perfection, and performance, the lyrics to "Just As I Am" reminds us that God sees us in all our imperfections and still opens His arms wide with grace. It's about a love that sees everything and still invites you in, into His presence and His Family.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 

in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:8)

"Just as I am, with all my imperfections, You draw me close and offer strength in weakness."

The Lord tells Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” God isn’t waiting for us to have it all together. He meets us in the middle of our mess, not with shame, but with grace, mercy, and compassion.  God's power is not diminished or limited by our weaknesses. When we recognize our limitations and fully rely on God, it is through our weaknesses that He makes us strong in the name of Jesus.

"He gives power to the weak; And to those 

who have no might He increases strength." 

(Isaiah 40:29)

"Oh, You don’t require; More than I can give you; It’s your desire That nothing’s hidden from you."

The heart of God’s grace does not require anything from us. If anything, we have to be honest with ourselves, completely transparent, about any issues, skeletons in the closet, mess ups, mishaps, mistakes, all the wrong turns we took in life, so that healing and restoration can begin. God does not want perfection He wants honesty.

The Lord does not place unbearable demands on us; instead, He invites us to bring what we can give, our hearts laid bare before Him.

 

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, 

a broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, 

You will not despise.” 

(Psalm 51:17)

God’s desire isn’t rooted in outward performance, but in inward surrender. Again, He longs for transparency (nothing hidden, no masks, no pretending) Hebrews 4:13 says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Yet in this full exposure, He still responds with love, acceptance, and grace.

“Lord, You know me and still love me. There’s nothing You can’t see, the secrets, the heartache; and still You’re calling me, just as I am.”

It's hard to fathom that God can still love us, despite knowing everything about us.  However, understanding that God knows us intimately should give us comfort as well as make us feel safe and secure in His Love, knowing we are not alone in our thoughts, feelings, or actions. 

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.” 

(Psalm 139:1)

God sees every hidden place, every silent pain, every scar we try to cover. Still, His love doesn't waver. He calls us not despite who we are, but because of who we are...His. Hallelujah and Amen!!!

“You lead me to Your presence. Your grace renews and offers me acceptance.”

Jesus will lead us to His presence and show us the way we should go.  There's nothing like God's grace. His unmerited favor is about forgiveness of sins, the freedom to live a new life, to be transformed and to grow in our relationship with God. 

"Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, 

For You are the God of my salvation; 

On You I wait all the day." 

(Psalm 25:4-5)

Not only does God's grace renews, He offers us acceptance. Not just any acceptance, Grace-based acceptance. His acceptance of us is not earned through our own merit or works, but is a gift freely given through His grace.

"to the praise of the glory of His grace, 

by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." 

(Ephesians 1:6)

Being accepted in the Beloved should give us joy, make us feel more than grateful, and give us the desire to live a life that's pleasing to our Heavenly Father, especially knowing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Him. We are not loved because we perform well. We are loved because we belong to the One who first loved us.

“You don’t want perfection, You just want my heart. When I was lost and broken, You said, ‘Come as you are.’”
That is the very nature of Jesus. In Matthew 11:28, He declares, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He doesn’t ask for our resume. He does not care about our haves and have nots. He asks for our heart and total surrender.

Question: What does this mean for us?

It means we can stop hiding. We can stop striving. We can stop trying to earn what’s already been freely given through the blood of Jesus. Our Savior doesn’t demand masks or perfection. He desires truth in the inward parts.

"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts; 

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom." 

(Psalm 51:6). 

He longs for our honesty, our vulnerability, and our return. It's time come on home.  Jesus is waiting with His arms open wide.

********************************************************

******************************************************** 

Take a moment to come before God just as you are. Bring your burdens, your brokenness, your doubts, and your dreams. There is no condemnation in Christ, only an invitation. Lay aside the need to perform and simply open your heart. Let this truth wash over you: You are fully known and fully loved. And because of Jesus, you are always welcome...just as you are.

“Lord, You know me, every thought, every failure, every fear, and yet You still call me. I come to You today just as I am. I lay down my mask and give You my heart. Let Your grace renew me and Your presence restore me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”