COME AS YOU ARE

come |kʌm| verb ( past came |keɪm|; past participle come ) 1 [ no obj., usu. with adverbial of direction ] move or travel towards or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker: Come, just as you are.

Equipped by Faith was started in 2014 as a little women’s Bible study in my living room. Since then, it’s grown to become a place where women of all ages, cultures, and denominations can come to let down their guard, open their hearts, and to be encouraged and inspired by other women of faith. It’s become a place where women can come, just as they are. 

As women, we often compare ourselves to others and put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to be perfect. It can be easy to feel as though we have to have everything together and come with so many things on our minds—our family, kids, spouse, jobs, cars, house, meals we need to prepare, and on and on…. 

But the pursuit of perfection can actually hinder our relationship with God if we feel "too unworthy" to come boldly into God’s presence. 

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 

God asks us to come boldly into His presence, just as we are.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in John Chapter 8 when the religious leaders brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus…

They threw the woman down in the dirt in front of Jesus. She was naked and ashamed and they expected Him to judge her. But he didn’t. Instead, Jesus just bent down beside her and began writing in the dirt. 

He looked up to her accusers and said, "Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone," and knelt beside her once more.

And her accusers left, one by one until she was left alone with Jesus, her Redeemer. 

Could you imagine her surprise when she looked up from her certain fate to find that there were absolutely no stones to be cast? Could you imagine the weight that was lifted from her shoulders when she realized that even in her brokenness, God was her defender? Could you imagine the depth of her gratitude when she realized how deep the love of God was for her, even at her lowest point of shame and guilt? 

Many of us think we need to get our lives in order before we can come to God. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. 

"It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous; but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32

When I was just beginning to pursue a deeper relationship with God, a friend of mine and I used to go to church on Saturday nights wearing large coats to cover up the clubbing dresses we were wearing underneath. We would listen to the sermon, sing the songs and then go dancing and drinking all night right afterward. I laugh at this now, because I know that even then, God was lovingly pursuing me and planting seeds deep within my heart (even though some might say I was "unworthy" to be sitting in that pew). 

But it is only by God's love and grace that we are saved. Not by our works or by our deeds. There is nothing we can ever do to earn His love or salvation on our own.

That is true, everlasting love. 

And that’s what makes this the greatest love we will ever know.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8 

So, come to God, just as you are today. If you're broken, sad, discouraged or tired–come. If you're hopeful, encouraged, or leaning on your own strength–come. 

We’ll come as we are—and leave forever changed.

XO-

Sabrina