Beloved

What is it about women that we so often don’t believe ourselves to be lovable? We crave constant affirmation. We long to be wanted, desired for who we are in our heart of hearts. And understood.

I’ve got some great news. We are!

We just don’t always realize it.

God’s love is not a feeling. It is a fact. We tend to believe we are loved only when we sense his presence. Those rare moments when all is right with our world and we lose ourselves in worship. But God’s love is no less real when the dryer’s on the fritz. His love is no less passionate when your nose is both stuffed up and runny, and everything sounds like it’s underwater. He still there in the moment when it seems your dream is dead. If your dream is dead, it’s because he’s come to replace it with a better, brighter yearning. But too often we see only the loss and cannot believe there could ever be anything more wonderful out there than to have our every longing gratified.

Believe it or not, even when it hurts, he loves us.

Perfection is not his desire. You are. If you were the only one in the world who needed him, he still would have chosen the cross.

He loves you.

When it seems like other Christians are getting away with things that you never can seem to get away with, perhaps it is merely his voice calling you closer.

You are his favorite.

The apple of his eye (Zech 2:8) and joy of his heart (Luke 15:7.) He carved your name on the palm of his hand (Isa. 49:16). What further proof could you need of his desire?

1 John 4:16-“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love...” Doubting his love means you doubt his very nature. I don’t know how to state it any stronger. He loves you. You cannot escape his love. You might as well embrace it.

A quote has been floating around for many years. “What would you risk if you knew you could not fail?”

Beloved of the Lord, what will you do with that love? What would you risk if you knew he’d be backing you the whole way? That his grace and love are sufficient to meet every need? That you cannot out love him?