Self-reliance and Love

Self-reliance can lead to self-condemnation when we find our reliance on ourselves is not dependable, leading to being hard on ourselves for not meeting expectations. This cycle can be broken by prioritizing God's love first, as He always initiates love before us. In the context of love, God is the bridegroom, and we are the bride, symbolizing our role in receiving love as a gift rather than trying to initiate it ourselves.