“There was never a time in all of eternity when we were not loved by God.” – Jack Winter
I grew up thinking that God loves me, but doesn’t necessarily like me. I’ve often thought of Him as the Old Man, out there in the cosmos, who’s mostly disappointed in humanity. But, to appease His anger, He sent His son Jesus as scapegoat to the world, to be a “bridge” across a great divide. Growing up in a religious environment, I struggled throughout the years, walking an area in between absolute faith and absolute confusion. I’ve sung about God’s love until it became routine and felt like it lost meaning at times.
Born into the Church and raised in a religious sub-culture, pretty much ALL of my sin and failures came after I said ‘yes’ to Jesus. Because I’ve been a Christian for many years, yet still wrestle with my flesh, I tend to experience monumental amounts of guilt, shame, and condemnation after I’ve transgressed the love of God. The voice of the enemy comes blaring in, saying, “You should’ve had it together by now. You’ve been walking with your Jesus all these years, and are still filthy. There’s no hope of redemption for you….”
I feel like so many things would change, if I really knew that God loves me, with a tender father’s love. We all want to know that we are lovable; that we are desirable to someone! I’m finding that even those who don’t necessarily believe that God exists, are desperately searching for some sort of higher power that will bring comfort to their innermost being.
As I continue my journey with the Lord, I feel like I keep hearing a reoccurring message from God’s heart, which is this: “Take the risk of trusting the fact that I love you! I began a good work in you, and I am going to complete it. So, RELAX!”
Jeremiah assures us that God loves us, no matter what, unconditionally. We must believe it! It doesn’t matter what we think or how we feel – He loves us without boundary or condition.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Romans 8:38
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