Prior to becoming a Christian, Pretty Woman had been one of my favorite movies. It had glamor, action, drama, and a girl’s tried-and-true favorite: rescue by a knight in shining armor. Perhaps the most memorable line in the movie is when Richard Gere (Edward Lewis, aka high-class ‘John’) says to Julia Roberts (aka prostitute Vivian), “I think you are a very bright, beautiful woman,” to which she replies,

“The bad stuff is easier to believe. Have you ever noticed that?”

It captured the hearts of many who, like myself, had also decided “the bad stuff is easier to believe.” A painful past will do that to a person …

The Reality Today

For most of us, believing “the bad stuff” often starts out as a form of self-preservation. Perhaps we are trying to protect ourselves from a painful past, disappointment, or failure. Years ago, I thought God could never forgive my past. Perhaps you can relate. However, God’s love is greater than our sin – all of it. He knows the “bad stuff” we believe about ourselves, other people, and even God Himself. All of us have been both victims and victimizers. Whether in one form or another, or at one time or another. But Jesus came to this earth with Good News! There is a Father in Heaven who loves us. His desire is to transform us into the image of His Son, who is full of love, mercy, and compassion.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

When we embrace Jesus, Who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14:6) we will find the courage to reject the lies we’ve come to believe. Only then can we cry out,

“It’s not true!

I have dignity! I have worth!

There is a God who loves me!”

God’s love is not dependent on what you do or don’t do –

it is based entirely on WHO HE IS. 

Do you need a reminder of how deeply you are loved? Are you ready to reject the lies and claim your identity as a beloved child of God?

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth …but a birth that comes from God.” (John 1:12)

Rediscover how precious you are in God’s sight through powerful Bible studies, such as HAGAR: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me or LEGION: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me. 

Shadia is a passionate Bible teacher, author and speaker, who has a heart for seeing people transformed through the power of God’s Word. She holds a master’s in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and is author of several Bible studies. Join the Brave the Deep community for updates to learn about her new study!

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