Have you ever attached to God the hurts or disappoints other people have caused you? I have. If I’m not careful, I can begin to think that is how God is. I can begin to not open myself up to God because I don’t want to get hurt again. I begin to let my thoughts wage war and fill my mind with lies.
That is not truth though. That is 100% false. Let us not go down this slippery slope. God is the exact opposite of hurt or disappointment. The love of the Lord is so much better than settling for a “human-like” image of love in 2017. He is proud to stand next to us. His love is breath to our lungs. His grace makes us stand with our shoulders held high. God has been re-shaping my image of true love. True love bears all. True love is pure. True love is not anxious.
Yes, that person or situation hurt me. But that’s not God. He has a perfect track record of faithfulness and He won’t blow it on you. With God, we can take a deep breath and let down our walls that we’ve built up to “protect ourselves” from pain. Our human minds can’t even comprehend the holy, pure love God has for us. Unlike any type of love we will ever experience on Earth. He doesn’t give His love in pieces. He offers himself completely to us. Other people will never be able to offer us the same kind of intimate, captivating love that God does. If we give other people the expectation to love us like this, we will be let down every time. Only the divine romance of God will satisfy.
Until Jesus is enough for you, no person or thing ever will be.
My prayer recently has been, “God, please re-shape, re-mold how I think about You. I know in my core that you are loving and full of grace, so help me to actually live like I believe that. People that have left me, made me feel less than, and hurt my soul are not You. You restore my soul, you are proud to stand next to me. Help me remember that daily.”
The song by Bethel Music, Pieces has been on repeat in my car the past few weeks. You know when you have those mini worship jam sessions in the car? Well, I highly suggest this song to jam out to ya’ll. This song beautifully defines the love of God. It takes a unique approach to the popular 1 Corinthians 13 chapter about love.
Don’t let your past hurts define how you view the love of God. Let it enhance how you view the love of God. I encourage you to listen to this song and take a minute to invite God in to re-shape your idea of true love.
You don’t give Your heart in pieces
You don’t hide Yourself to tease us
Your love’s not fractured
It’s not a troubled mind
It isn’t anxious
It’s not the restless kind
Your love’s not passive
It’s never disengaged
It’s always present
It hangs on every word we say
Love keeps its promises
It keeps its word
It honors what’s sacred
‘Cause its vows are good
Your love’s not broken
It’s not insecure
Your love’s not selfish
Your love is pure
Ruby Red 