The God Kind of Love

I listened to a sermon by Pastor Judah Smith today called “Wasted Love.” I found it really interesting to look at the way God loves us. Remember that God has foreknowledge, so He knows who is going to serve Him and who is not. He knows who is going to let him down. Yet in all cases, He healed everyone who was afflicted. He did not consider whether it was worth His time to heal them, He just did it. What a picture of true, unconditional, agape love. That is the God kind of love that we are supposed to have for each other. But do we love each other like that in reality? Or do we ask ourselves if the other person “deserves” it?

In the scriptures there is a recurring theme of Jesus including everyone. He challenged a culture that excluded women, sinners, adulterers. As I was listening to this sermon, I thought about just how amazing and unconditional God’s love is for us. It’s not based on our performance, our worthiness, our potential. Regardless of what we do, He…just…loves…us. As Christians, we are called to love others in the same way. God doesn’t inflict our past on us. He simply loves us today. Right now.  

A popular portion of scripture that encapsulates God’s love is 1 Corinthians 13. It is often quoted at weddings when it is so easy to love because the infatuation of a new relationship makes it easy. The real test comes after years of marriage. When we look at 1 Corinthians 13 and compare it to our relationships, it seems almost impossible to love like this: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance…three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”  

We live in a culture that loves those who deserve it. We love those who are good to us. When we are hurt deeply by those we trusted, we find ourselves unable to forgive. We hold onto the hurt and justify our anger. When someone mistreats us, we don’t give them another chance. They don’t deserve our love. Is this the extravagant, limitless love of God?  

I understand the extreme pain and deep hurt of betrayal. But I also understand the tremendous healing power of God’s love. The power of forgiveness is amazing. We cannot forgive on our own, but God gives us the ability to forgive when we have been deeply hurt. This is the only way to truly be healed and release the poison of the circumstance. We don’t know how to love until we understand God’s love. When you see people through the eyes of God, you can’t help but to love them no matter what. This is a deeper love than I have ever known. It never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. There is tremendous power and strength in that.

Life is full of disappointment, betrayal, hurt, severed relationships. But God’s love still works. Once we understand the depth of love that God has for us, we are empowered to love others like that. This kind of love is amazing. It is unconquerable. Once you experience this type of love, you will never be the same. When you love someone with God’s love, it is never wasted. One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Peter 4:8: “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Does God Hear My Prayers?

I have heard people say that they pray, but they feel unheard.  They feel like there is a disconnection somewhere.  I understand that feeling.  But I have come to realize that whether God hears is not a matter of our feeling or perception.  It is the truth of God’s Word that there is tremendous power in prayer, whether we feel it or not.  Here are some good Bible verses to take to the Lord in prayer.  When we feel unheard, we need to ask God for the wisdom and the discernment to know how God wants us to pray. 

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

Mark 9:29  And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I went through the worst trial of my life in 2010.  My husband of 20 years left me to be with another woman.  I had previously never experienced such extreme feelings.  I was on an emotional roller coaster.  I don’t know if you have ever been betrayed by someone you completely trusted, but it is an extremely painful experience.  And I felt that there was nothing I could do about it.  Jay wanted to be with this woman.  She wanted to be with him.  I felt powerless.  All I could do is sit by and watch evil appear to prevail.  The thought of him being giddy with infatuation and spending all his time with her while I deal with the stress of raising the kids and paying the bills killed me inside.  Deep inside of every one of us is a desire to see people get what they deserve.  I am reminded of all the movies we watch and how good it makes us feel when someone who has been wronged gets justice.  But you know what I learned during that period of my life?  I learned to be still and know that I serve a just God, and that He makes everything right in due time.  Even though I had no tangible evidence that God was hearing my prayers (things remained the same), I realized that my job is to simply believe Him with childlike faith.  Every time I was attacked with thoughts of betrayal and I felt that intense emotional pain, I would cast my cares upon Him for I know He cares for me.  I didn’t always feel His presence, and I would sometimes wonder if He even heard me, but I was comforted by the words of Psalm 66: 19-20: “But God did listen!   He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.”