God loves us. But sometimes we forget. Sometimes we’re so caught up in the jumble of our lives that we won’t even allow Him to remind us. This past Sunday was Valentine’s Day. Did you let God and the people He put in your life love you?
The other day one of my kids woke with a massive headache. They had an important presentation at school ahead of them. They felt awful and were unsure of how they could navigate the presentation through their pain, but they had to go. They needed to be there. I laid out a grab-and-go breakfast, knowing not eating amplifies headaches. I found Advil and Tylenol to tackle the headache from both sides. I placed the capsules in the hand of my sweet child. But they were hurting and stressed, which made it difficult to focus on the help in front of them. They felt frozen by pain and worry, unable to put the medicine or breakfast in their mouth. I only share this, because I saw so much of my own frequent shutdowns and refusal to accept God’s help in their struggle.
I unfortunately do this all the time.
“Need any help?” my husband asks as I hustle around the kitchen trying to get dinner on the table before someone needs to sprint out the door for practice or rehearsal.
“No!” I snarl. Which is not the kindest way to respond to someone offering assistance. But I’m in a mode, and a mood. I fear if I slow down to even explain to Brett what needs to be done, I won’t complete my task in time. So instead of trusting and accepting the love God offers via my husband, I continue in a snit. I miss out on a chance to realize the beauty in the fact that God is tender enough to notice me making dinner and to offer a hand.
Or, I’ll get edits on something I’ve written and stubbornly think, nah, it makes perfect sense how I wrote it. Which is clearly not true, or the person editing wouldn’t have questioned what I was trying to say. God gives me wisdom via a colleague to improve the work I do for Him. Why do I ever resist accepting these insightful suggestions?
Or, the name of someone who’s hurt me comes up in conversation, and all I want to do is make a snide remark. But I hear God whisper, “Let it go. Speaking negative things makes you hang onto bitterness, which only ends up hurting you. It also sets a bad example for those around you.” My good, good Father is trying to protect me from inflicting pain on myself. Yet I want to say the snarky thing, so I say it anyway—and then get a pit in my stomach.
Can you relate?
I knew within fifteen minutes of ingesting the acetaminophen and ibuprofen, my child’s pain would be minimized. I also knew the longer they worried, the less time they’d have to get ready for school. This would make them more stressed; and the whole thing would continue to spiral. Easier to see when it’s happening to someone else. But I couldn’t shove medicine down their throat. And I couldn’t force feed them breakfast or dress them. I love my child and had tools to help—medicine, food, and a plan. They wouldn’t accept any of it. They ended up darting out the door hungry and in a frazzled mess.
Ugh. How many times do we do this with the help God offers? Shake our heads, wallow in our pain, and refuse to accept the gift of love He’s basically placed in our palms. We don’t mean to. My child didn’t mean to. They wanted to feel better, but they were overwhelmed. By all of it. I want to feel better, too—less stressed, better at my trade, and less bitter. But when we get overwhelmed, we tend to shut down. And in shutting our hands, we make it nearly impossible to receive God’s gifts.
Jesus came down to earth to love us. He died on the cross to love us. He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside us to—you guessed it—love us. That’s a lot of love. So why are we resisting it?
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37–39 NIV).
Last Sunday was a day dedicated to expressing love. I hope your day was full of those yummy-red-chewy-cherry hearts, rich Dove chocolates, laughter with the people dear to you, and warm, comforting hugs. But no matter whether or not it was, I know you are loved by the Creator of all things, the King of Kings. There’s not a single way you can mess up that will make Jesus love you less. There’s not a single thing you need to do to make Jesus love you more. He loves you fully and completely. Right now. As is.
He offers grace and joy and forgiveness and hope. Will you receive it? Open your hands. Open your heart. And let His unending glorious love flood in.
—Taken from a previously published blog by Laura L. Smith at www.laurasmithauthor.com. Used by permission from the author.
28 Responses
Amen. Sometimes we just need to slow down and let God do His work in us through who He sends.
Yes! amen amen. This is such a good reminder.
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Oh, His love is so powerful, so deep, so wide, filling such a gap in my heart! Thank you for opening my eyes to see Him in so many different ways in my life. May His love never let me go…amen
Claudette, His love IS so powerful! Grateful these words opened your eyes and reminded you of the truth that His love will always be the same for us!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Sounds so much the way I can act. Sometimes its easier to do it myself because…..
I do it best 🤪. Of course not accurate. Thank you for sharing. It is hidden in my heart ❤.
Sylvia, me too sister! So grateful for the Lord loves us just the same!!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Wow! Your words were of much comfort and reinforcement….I’m always blessed❣️
Marcia, I am so grateful these words were comfort and reinforcing truth into your heart! Thank you for being a part of the GHH Community.
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Beautiful reminder that God loves us no matter what.
Yesss! No matter what!!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
I can completely relate to this article – always resisting the help God sends, too caught up with "me." Thank you for the reminder to just rest in God’s love and accept help and mercy.
Jessica, we are so grateful for your words. I too, get caught up with "me" as well. I am so grateful we have a Father to draw near and learn more about His help and mercy!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Thank You for this loving and inspiring message. God bless and keep you!
Grateful for you Nida!!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Beautifully written!
<3
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Thank you for that,,,I really needed to hear those words. I will climb down off of my self imposed pity party & trust in the Lord to get me through,
Christina, we are so grateful for your vulnerability in the GHH Community. The Lord loves you just the same in the ups and downs.
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
I especially need to hear about His unconditional love. He loves me as I am.
Kathleen, we are so grateful this was something that your heart needed to hear. Our Father does love you as you are!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
What a wonderful lesson and this opened my eyes THAT GOD IS LOVE.
Wanda, we are so grateful for you. Our Father IS love, amen!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Wow, this is the message for me today. I had the same passage quoted in my daily Bible verse app. Nothing separates us from God’s love. He loves us fully.
Suzanne, yes – nothing separates us from God’s love, He loves us fully!
We are so grateful for you!!
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Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
Thank you, I needed that today. Husband had out patience surgery on Monday and the stress of that and getting him to the hospital by 5:30 am and caring for him after is a bit much. Thanks for the reminder to rest in Jesus arms and breath in his love and wisdom.
Bette, we are praying over your husbands healing and for the Lords peace to hold you during the stress of it all! We are so grateful for your involvement in God Hears Her Community!
Have you joined our women’s prayer group and let us know how we can cover you in prayer? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065571583891975
Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast
We serve an on time GOD. Thank you for this beautifully written message of love. It came at just the time I needed to hear it.
Vicki, we do serve an on time GOD! AMEN!! So grateful for you.
Have you joined our women’s prayer group and let us know how we can cover you in prayer? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065571583891975
Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast