When Love Gets Targeted

 When Love Gets Targeted

And what it taught me about worth, cruelty, and identity.

When Steve and I were engaged, we had one of those wedding websites where you could centralize everything—guest list, location, registry, the whole thing. We had always dreamed of our wedding being a testimony, and even on a tight budget, we found creative ways to invite a lot of people and make it special.

What we didn’t expect was for the website—because it was public—to become a platform for cruelty.

One day, we noticed an anonymous comment left on our page. It wasn’t from a stranger exactly—someone who knew mebut didn’t know Steve had decided to post a message using harsh words to essentially say that my husband-to-be was “ugly.”

Just like that.

No context. No name. Just hiding behind a screen to tear down someone I love.

I reached out to the site, hoping they could trace the IP address or at least give me something. But they said there was nothing they could do—no way to trace it, no tools to block or report users.
All I could do was delete it.

So I did.
But honestly, the damage was already done.

I was heartbroken.

Not because I believed the comment. Not even because I needed to defend Steve’s looks.
But because it was a reminder of how cruel people can be. That someone would take the time, on a wedding website, of all places, to try to tear down the man I love... it hurt deeply.

Of course, Steve was hurt too. But you know what?
He knows who he is.
He didn’t fall apart.
He didn’t retaliate.
He stood in the quiet, humble confidence of someone who is grounded in identity.

And that’s the part that makes me the most proud.
Because in a world where people will use a screen to throw stones, real strength is found in those who don't let their worth be shaken by anonymous voices.

The truth is—we all have a choice.
We can let the negative voices define us, or we can allow God to define us.
And when we walk in His truth about who we are, the hurtful things people say may still sting for a moment—but they won’t derail us.

Because our identity isn’t up for public vote.
It’s already been spoken over us by the One who created us.
And when we stand in that truth, the noise fades, and confidence grows.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” —Isaiah 43:1

That’s the voice that gets the final word.