Not Who I Imagined

From our earliest days we long for love and acceptance. First from our parents, then from peers, and eventually from romantic interests. We look into their faces, searching for a smile, a look that says, I love you exactly as you are. Don’t change. We long for the same gracious acceptance from God. But despite the Christian gospel of unearned grace and unconditional love, too many of us feel as though we’re still not quite good enough as we are. We can’t believe that God accepts us. And often this is because those who represent God to us on earth—our parents, other Christians—have not looked upon us as we are with expressions of unrelenting love.
With compassion and wit, Margot Starbuck asks the question, What if God receives me exactly as I am? She explores the unbounded love of God, showing readers a God whose face is open, kind, and gracious, accepting us as we are and freeing us from shame. Anyone who has ever felt as though they don’t quite measure up will cherish this liberating message about God’s abundant grace.

Author Biography

Margot Starbuck (MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary) is the confessions editor for” Geez Magazine”‘s Sinner’s Corner, and a blogger for “Red Letter Christians,” “Her.meneutics,” “Gifted for Leadership,” and “FullFill.” The author of “Permission Granted,” “ “she also writes for “Relevant,” “Neue,” “Kyria,” “Mutuality,” “Prism,” and “MomSense,” as well as other print and online publications. She lives in North Carolina.