He First Loved Us: George's Story of Finding Worth After a Life of Shame

Frank Wible
Aug 8
2 min read

George had always felt like he was not enough. As a child, he tried everything to make his father proud, but nothing ever seemed to be enough. Whether it was his grades, his effort on the field, or how quiet he stayed at the dinner table, love always felt conditional.

Frank Wible Man in a gray blazer sits on a park bench at sunset, looking serious. Blurred trees and soft light in the background create a calm mood. — He had spent his whole life trying to be enough.

As an adult, that same pressure followed him into every relationship. He worked hard, succeeded in business, provided for his family, but never felt at peace. Deep down, he believed he had to keep proving his worth, to others, to himself, and even to God.

When his marriage fell apart, George took it as confirmation of what he had feared all along. That he was hard to love. That something in him was broken. He carried that lie like a badge, hidden under layers of performance and strength.

He still went to church, still smiled and served, but never let anyone close. One night, after coming home to an empty house, he sat on the couch and whispered, “God, I don't even know who I am anymore.”

He picked up a worn Bible he had not opened in months. It fell open to 1 John 4. He read the words slowly: “We love because he first loved us.” It was not new to him, but this time it felt personal. It was not about religion. It was about identity.

For the first time, George saw the difference between being loved and being chosen. God had not waited for him to earn approval. God had loved him first, before the achievements, before the mistakes, before the masks.

Man in a gray blazer reading a book on a sofa. Dimly lit room with a lamp and plaid pillow. Reflective mood. — He read the verse again. “He first loved us.” This time, it felt personal.

He broke down. Not out of sadness, but release. The weight he had carried for years, the performance, the shame, the constant striving, it began to fall away. He whispered, “You loved me first. You still do.”

George began the slow journey of healing. He got counseling. He joined a men’s group and started being honest about his story. He stopped trying to look perfect and started practicing being real.

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One night in group, a younger man shared about feeling like he had nothing to offer God. George looked at him with tears in his eyes and said, “You don’t have to earn His love. He already gave it. He first loved us.”

That sentence stuck with the whole room. And it reminded George again that the greatest love is not achieved. It is received.

Years later, George still has moments of doubt, but they don’t control him anymore. When shame tries to creep in, he goes back to that truth. God’s love came first. And it still stands.

Because of that, George now lives not to prove his worth, but to reflect the love that found him when he had nothing left to give.

What helps you remember your worth in God's eyes?