Answering Love’s Call

There’s a moment in life—perhaps you’ve experienced it—when something deep within you stirs. It’s a quiet whisper, yet somehow it feels like a roar, calling you to more. More than what you’ve known. More than what’s comfortable. More than what fits neatly into the expectations others have placed on you.

For me, this call came as an invitation to live free. Not just free from external constraints but free from the internal ones: fear, comparison, and the weight of other people’s opinions. It’s an invitation I continue to answer daily, one step at a time.

What does it mean to live life free?

Living life free doesn’t mean we have it all figured out. In fact, it’s often the opposite. It’s about embracing the unknown with curiosity and trust. It’s about unlearning the rules and beliefs that no longer serve us, the ones that keep us small, stuck, or striving for approval.

It’s a journey of unburdening—releasing fear, letting go of the need to control, and allowing Love to guide us. It’s about reconnecting with who we were created to be before life, circumstances, or expectations told us otherwise.

For me, living free has meant stepping away from the noise of opinions and leaning into the gentle truth that Love has always been whispering to my heart. It’s about discovering that freedom isn’t found in perfection or performance but in the beautiful act of being.

What’s Holding You Back?

If you’re anything like me, you may have spent years basing your decisions on what others might think. “What will they say if I do this? What will they think if I step into who I truly am?” These thoughts can keep us in a cycle of playing small, hiding our light, and living for others instead of for the life Love is calling us to.

But here’s the truth: People’s perceptions of you are none of your business. That’s right. None. Their thoughts, opinions, and judgments are reflections of their own experiences—not of who you truly are.

The life you’ve been given is yours and yours alone. It’s a gift. And when we live for the opinions of others, we miss out on the beauty, the joy, and the freedom of living the life we were designed to live.

The Call to Freedom

Answering the call to live free is about surrender. It’s about trusting that Love is leading us on a path that is divinely orchestrated, even when we can’t see the next step. It’s about walking forward, hand in hand with Love, and allowing the journey to unfold.

It doesn’t mean the path will be easy. Living free often requires courage to let go of what’s familiar and step into the unknown. It’s a process of unlearning, releasing, and remembering. And through it all, Love is there—patient, kind, and steady—guiding us into the fullness of who we were created to be.

Reflection Questions

As you ponder what it means to live life free, here are a few questions to sit with:

1. Have you ever felt a deep tug for more? What did that tug feel like for you?

2. What beliefs, rules, or expectations do you feel called to release?

3. In what ways do you feel Love is inviting you to live free?

Take your time with these questions. Journal your thoughts or bring them into your quiet time with Love. Let your responses flow freely, without restriction or judgment.

Invitation

Living life free isn’t about arriving at a destination; it’s about embracing the journey. It’s about releasing fear, letting Love lead, and stepping into the fullness of who you are.

If today’s reflection spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you. You can connect with me on Instagram @LaShawnDobbs.

A Father’s Love

Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.” – 1 John 3:1 tPt

In the quiet moments, she gazes into the bathroom mirror, a smile on her lips. Her heart swells with gratitude for the journey of self-love she’s embraced. Whispers escape with her smile, “Papa, thank You for the beauty of Your love.”

A Father’s love holds transformative power. In the presence of a healthy father, a little girl discovers a love that echoes through her life. This love becomes a lens through which she perceives herself. Unfazed by societal standards or others’ opinions, she learns to see herself through the tender eyes of her loving father.

Recently, my self-perception underwent a profound shift. No weight was lost, no makeup adorned my face, and no drastic changes altered my appearance. What changed was my acceptance of my Father’s love. His words of acceptance, love, and affirmation echoed in my heart, and I embraced them fully. No longer do I shy away or deny my true identity. Through the lens of my loving Papa, I see the unfiltered truth of who I am.

{Visual} A little girl around the age of five, with curly ponytails, and a pink checkered dress twirling freely.

As I pondered on this visual, a profound connection resonated with words of healing and restoration spoken by Papa a few years ago: ‘I am healing you from the abuse you suffered, and I will restore your innocence.’

Thank you, Papa, for your unwavering love. Through your love, my eyes have been opened, allowing me to love myself freely.

Originally written June 28, 2020 at 1:57 pm

Beloved, Be Loved

Let go, there’s no need to strive. What is there to hold on to? Everything in this world is fleeting, but My love for you.

Let go, stop fighting against what you know is true–that’s My love for you.

You’ve heard stories that just aren’t true. You feel the power of My love calling out to you.

My love is not fake, phony, or a net meant to trap you. My love is real and authentic. My love will never change, and I’ll always remain true.

Allow My love in. Allow My love to nourish the deepest depths of your heart, the places where counterfeit love came crashing in–My love has the power to comfort and heal those places of your heart that were left in ruin.

But first, you must let Me in…

Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear My voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with Me. Revelation 3:20 tPt

Revelation 3:20 Footnote: The Aramaic can be translated, “I have been standing at the door, knocking.” Jesus, knocking on the door, points us to the process of an ancient Jewish wedding invitation. In the days of Jesus, a bridegroom, and his father would come to the door of the bride-to-be carrying the betrothal cup of wine and the bride-price. Standing outside, they would knock. If she fully opened the door, she was saying, “Yes, I will be your bride.” Jesus and His Father, in the same way, are knocking on the doors of our hearts, and inviting us to be the bride of Christ.