Jesus loves me, this I know

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Romans 8:38-39 (The Message Bible)

When we were younger, my sister would have this weird game she would play. She would come up to me and with the most annoying voice be like “I love you!” and I’d be disturbed but say it back wondering what got her in such a mood (because she’s usually not the touch-feely kinda people). Often what would follow would be her grabbing me and not letting go. I’d try to fight her off but it wouldn’t work. I’d try and bite her but she was never within biting distance (plus my mum would kill me for biting my baby sister) and so after struggling long enough, I’d resort to just letting her grab hold of me as I go on with whatever I’m doing, hoping that she’d eventually get tired and leave me alone. It would take forever! But she would finally let go.

Thinking about that last part of the verse “…because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us” reminds me of that game. I’m so grateful that God’s embrace isn’t like my sister’s but the fact that I can kick and scream all I want but God won’t relent in His undying love for me is something that I can never be thankful enough for. I have experienced this love first hand in my short life. It’s one thing to fall short and it’s another thing to know and understand just how short you’ve really fallen. That kind of awareness brings out a kind of brokenness that very few other things can in this life. It’s humbling to think that even in the deepest, darkest pit God still has His unrelenting love surrounding me, that He has never, and will never love me more than He loves me right now! Despite the shame and guilt of my mistakes, His Hand remains outstretched to me (Psalm 136:12) and He will never leave nor forsake me (Joshua 1:5).

I look into the eyes of my child and I know unconditional love. I think of the times that things are being broken, drinks are spilled, walls are being written on, utensils are being broken, peace and quiet is a luxury and in the midst of all this, I know that I would die for my child because nothing can take my love for my child away from me. Anyone else watch their child sleep at night and wonder if they have some form of split personality? Surely, they can’t be this peaceful at night and be the source of chaos in the day, and yet, when you give them a hug, nothing else in this world matters.

If we in our human limitations and weaknesses are able to have that kind of affection for our children, how much more a perfect God who IS love? (Luke 11:10-13) All this to the point of giving up His only Son! (Being a parent, you can kind of imagine what it would mean to see your child go through what Jesus went through on that cross.) How then would you not think that He doesn’t love you? That’s the kind of love that God has for us! We mess up, we come back crying, He calms us down, we do wrong again, and He still embraces us. While many people may see this is something that can be taken advantage of, I’m definitely glad that God doesn’t treat me according to my nature but by His own. My only consistency is in my inconsistency and yet He still consistently loves me, and He loves you too. And so may you never feel unloved, uncared for, or unwanted because even in the loneliest of times, He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.