I was working from home this past week, sitting on the couch with my computer on my lap, when our Shih Tzu, Brea, came over and started tapping my leg with her paws. She stared up at me with those irresistible puppy-dog eyes. I couldn’t figure out what she wanted other than some love—or better yet, my undivided attention. So I set my computer aside, picked her up, and we snuggled for a while. It immediately lifted my spirits. I think she knew I needed some extra love. Dogs are so good at showing unconditional love. (Sorry if you’re a cat person!)
There are seasons in life when I really struggle with whether God truly loves me. I know at my core that He has forgiven my sins, but I still find myself asking: Am I even lovable? Can you relate? Have you ever wondered if you’re truly loved? The Evil One knows how to push our buttons, and in those moments, we need to remind him who we belong to.
Sometimes God’s truth can be difficult to hear. The prophet Isaiah spoke some hard words to the nation of Israel as the exile approached and their future looked bleak. But in Isaiah 43, the tone changes.
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you . . . Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.” – Isaiah 43:1-2, 4 (NLT)When we hear—and completely believe—that we are loved, it can be life-changing. It begins to break through the scars and calluses we‘ve built around our hearts and souls over the years. The key isn’t just hearing it; it’s believing it. There is something incredibly powerful about realizing that you are deeply loved by God. No matter what circumstances or challenges we face, the truth has the power to transform our lives.
John puts it this way in 1 John 4:8-9 (MSG): “This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.”
God doesn’t just tell us that we are loved—He showed us through Jesus. He desires to restore our relationship with Him. We will never earn His love: it’s unconditional, with no strings attached.
John continues in 1 John 4:11-12 (MSG): “My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply with us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!”
If we want that love to grow, we have to share it. Telling someone, “you are loved,” can be a powerful blessing for spouses, children, friends, co-workers, or even a stranger. Our words matter. They can tear down or build up, and they become even more powerful when they reflect God’s love.
What would change if we truly believed we are loved by God? How would it affect our sense of worth? How would it change the way we treat others—especially difficult people, those we disagree with, or those society tends to overlook?
What about the barista who serves your coffee every week who may be struggling in an abusive relationship? The driver who cut you off in traffic and may have just lost their job? Or the church greeter whose smile hides a world of pain?
When we finally believe that we are loved, it not only changes the way we see ourselves—it opens our eyes to the needs and brokenness around us.
You are loved! Believe it. Now, let’s go share God’s love and change the world.