Looking inside

I just had a conversation with one of my guy friends from high school. I can't help but feel terribly sad for this guy who is honestly one of the most positive, fun, and amazing guys I know---but he is struggling right now because he desperately wants someone to love him for who he is, but he doesn't love himself---which breaks my heart.

He has this way of lying to himself that he can do everything, even though he knows he can't, but he thinks if he tells himself he can, he can do better than if he didn't believe he could. Okay, so I understand the speaking things into existence part of his philosophy, but he has no grace for himself when he falls short of his expectations.

He has this desire to do better---he always believes he can do better---so basically everything he does isn't good enough. He has a good heart--he wants to make a difference in the world--but he beats himself up for every short coming.

I feel like he, along with many people I know (including myself sometimes!), are too focused on the external. He wants to make everything on the outside look like it's perfect when he's torn on the inside. I feel once we fix our internals, then slowly but surely we will bear fruit on our external lives. If we focus on making the outside look good---we will get frustrated at every little mishap and try to fix the issue which is simply a symptom of a larger heart issue. Yeah, we can treat the symptoms and try to stop doing this thing we dislike doing---but we will never cure the disease unless we treat our heart.

It's just hard to see such an amazing guy going through so much pain because he simply won't stop and look inside himself and address the root of the issue. I also think it's difficult because he is in another country and I hope God will reveal Himself to this guy.

Lord, please help my friend. God, show him how much you love him just the way he is. Father protect him while he is away from his home, family and friends. In Your Mighty Name I pray--Amen