Self Care Saturday 05/03/2025
Remember that moment when you caught your reflection unexpectedly – maybe in a store window or your bathroom mirror – and all you could see were the flaws? I've been there too many times to count. That inner critic kicks in, listing all the ways you don't measure up, until that voice in your head whispers, "Are you really worthy of love at all?"
"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." — Psalm 103:8
I don't know about you, but I spent years on the exhausting hamster wheel of trying to earn love. Another certification, another achievement, another few pounds lost, another person impressed – surely then I'd finally feel worthy. Maybe you know exactly what I'm talking about. We live in a world of conditional acceptance, where our value seems tied to our latest performance review or Instagram likes.
What Happens When We're Truly Seen
Those parts of ourselves we keep hidden – the jealousy we're ashamed of, the resentment we can't shake, the habits we've tried a thousand times to break – these are precisely the places where His love wants to reach. I've discovered that the very things I was most afraid to bring into the light are where the deepest healing happens.
If I'm being honest, this hasn't been easy for me. I'm a master at compartmentalizing, showing my "spiritual side" at church while keeping my anxieties and doubts carefully tucked away. Maybe you do something similar? But bit by bit, I'm learning that this exhausting performance isn't necessary. Jesus already knows the full, unedited version of who I am – and loves me completely.
A Simple Practice: Receiving Jesus's Compassion
This is why I created a guided meditation specifically designed to help us experience the transformative power of Jesus's unconditional love. Trust me when I say I'm not naturally good at meditation! My mind wanders, my to-do list interrupts, and sometimes I fall asleep. But this practice isn't about perfect performance; it's about creating a space where we can lay down our defenses and simply receive.
The meditation walks you through becoming present (even for those of us with busy minds!), gently acknowledging where you've been judging yourself harshly, and then inviting Jesus's loving presence into those very places. Some people experience a physical warmth, others a sense of lightness or peace. For me, it often comes as a profound sense of being held when I've been trying so hard to hold everything together.
Click here to access the guided meditation
How This Practice Has Changed Me (And Could Change You)
When I first began regularly positioning myself to receive Christ's compassion, I noticed several shifts that surprised me:
My mental soundtrack started changing. That harsh inner critic that had narrated my life for decades – the one constantly pointing out where I wasn't measuring up – gradually got quieter. Not gone completely (I'm still human!), but it's increasingly being replaced by a voice that sounds a lot more like Jesus – kind, encouraging, and full of grace.
I became gentler with myself. I'm a recovering perfectionist who used to beat myself up over every tiny mistake. Now I catch myself extending the same compassion to myself that I'd offer a dear friend. Progress, not perfection, right?
My faith became less about doing and more about being. Prayer transformed from another spiritual checkbox to genuine conversation. I found myself talking to God throughout the day, just as I would a trusted friend who I know accepts me completely.
The Ripple Effect
Here's what fascinates me most: as I've learned to receive Jesus's compassion, my relationships with others have softened too. I find myself less triggered by people's differences, more curious about their stories, and more patient with their journeys. The love I've received naturally wants to flow outward.
In our world of quick judgments and polarized opinions, imagine if more of us could see through eyes of compassion rather than criticism. Each time we extend understanding instead of judgment, we create a tiny ripple of Christ's love in a world desperate for genuine connection.
Your Invitation
I'm inviting you to carve out fifteen minutes today to try the guided meditation I've created. Find a quiet corner (even if it's your parked car or bathroom!), put in your earbuds, and allow yourself to be fully present to this experience.
Come with your weariness, your disappointments, your struggles – all the things you think disqualify you from love – and allow them to be met with divine tenderness. Come with your questions and doubts; they're welcome here too.
This journey of learning to receive love unconditionally isn't a one-and-done experience. Some days my heart feels wide open; other days old defenses snap back into place. That's okay. Each time we intentionally place ourselves in the presence of Jesus’ compassion, something heals, whether we feel it immediately or not.
Today, may you take one step closer to knowing – not just in your head, but in your – that you are infinitely, unconditionally, and eternally loved.
Have a blessed Saturday.
Mike
Share where you're struggling to receive compassion right now – sometimes naming it is the first step toward healing. Your story matters more than you know.
Encouragement for the Waiting Soul: In the Spirit of the 40 Days After Easter
Dear Friends,
Sometimes, clarity doesn’t come quickly. Sometimes, the best we can offer is “not yet,” “I’m still listening,” or simply, “Lord, help me wait.” If that’s where you are today, you’re not alone—and you’re not outside the reach of God’s presence.
We are currently living in the 40 days after Easter, a sacred season often overlooked, yet deeply meaningful. After Jesus rose from the dead, He didn’t immediately ascend to heaven. Instead, He spent forty days appearing to His disciples and followers—many of whom were hiding, doubting, grieving, or simply confused about what would come next.
“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
—Acts 1:3 (NIV)
In this post-resurrection season, Jesus didn’t rebuke their fear or demand instant faith. He met them where they were—with peace, presence, and promise. He broke bread with them, walked alongside them in their sadness (Luke 24:13–35), and spoke directly to their doubts (John 20:24–29). He reminded them of everything He had taught—and more importantly, what was coming: the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
—Luke 24:49 (NIV)
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
—Acts 1:8 (NIV)
So if you find yourself in a space of uncertainty—between what has been and what is yet to come—know that you are standing in sacred ground. These forty days were meant for waiting, for rebuilding faith, and for recognizing the risen Christ in new ways.
“Peace be with you.”
—John 20:19 (NIV)
These are the same words Jesus offered when He stepped into locked rooms filled with fear. They are the same words He speaks to us now, in our own rooms of hesitation, limitation, or holy unrest.
Even when we feel like we don’t have the strength, God does:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
And even when we don’t know what to do, the Spirit intercedes for us:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness... the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
—Romans 8:26 (NIV)
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Jesus meets us where we are—not in our perfection or productivity, but in our surrender and honesty. Sometimes the most faithful response isn’t a bold “yes” or “no,” but a quiet, prayerful “I’m listening.”
So today, may you find peace in the waiting. May you extend to yourself the same grace and compassion that you would offer to others. And may you remember that the same Jesus who appeared to His followers in their fear is still showing up for us—empowering us with His Spirit, filling the space between questions with presence, and preparing our hearts for what’s ahead.
With hope and blessing,
Javier
Subject: From One Journeyer to Another – A Heartfelt Note
Mike,
I read your recent message and deeply appreciate the vulnerability and insight you shared. Your reflections on receiving compassion, letting go of performance, and making space for healing really resonate with me—especially in this season of my life.
That said, I want to share something from my heart. A little while ago, I reached out to you, hoping you might consider reviewing my new book. I saw you as a spiritual leader who might understand the spirit behind what I’ve written—someone who could offer guidance or even just a word of encouragement. When I didn’t hear back, I was left sitting with silence, wondering if my voice mattered.
It’s hard to reconcile the public invitation to share struggles and receive compassion with the private absence of response. It’s not bitterness I’m coming with, just honesty—because, like you said, naming the struggle can be a step toward healing.
I still believe in the message of grace and connection. If there’s room now, I’d still be honored to share the book with you. Either way, thank you for your authenticity, and may the same compassion you’re learning to receive continue to shape your ministry and relationships.
With sincerity,
Javier