Jen’s Gem: God is Love and He Loves Us!

As I write this post this morning, our world is hurting. Recent events have turned our normal way of life into something none of us could ever have imagined. Death and destruction fill our news feeds 24/7 and we long for peace. We ache for a sense of control over our lives, but it eludes us.

Many are seeking answers and finding none. Why did COVID-19 happen? Why was an innocent man murdered? Why are people destroying their own communities? Why is there so much hatred and division? Why?

Some may be asking – why is God allowing this? Why isn’t He stopping the madness? Isn’t He supposed to be a good God? Doesn’t He love us anymore? Has He given up on us?
 
Here is my response to these questions: God is good. He loves us. He has not given up on us and never will. He is our Father in heaven and He loves His children unconditionally. All He desires is to have a relationship with us so that we can experience His love, share in His promises, and live the life He purposed for us before the beginning of the world.
 
Like any good parent, He just wants to hear from His kids. He wants the best for us. He sees all we can be and desires nothing less than that. He is our biggest cheerleader, our champion. He is always on our side, defending us, protecting us, counseling us – if we’d only let Him.
 
“I wish I could believe that,” was the response of one of my daughter’s friends recently when I told her that God loved her. It broke my heart. She’s not had good experiences of love and acceptance from the people in her life. She has little to no first-hand knowledge of what it feels like to be loved by humans, so how could she believe me or anyone who tells her that there’s a “being up there” who loves her?

She is among the walking wounded – like so many others – who have no clue about God’s love. They have no idea that because of this immense love, God sent His only Son to die for us. An unimaginable death no less. He sent Jesus to restore the relationship He intended to have with us from day one in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.

So, if God loves us so much, why are all of these bad things happening?

Just as there is God’s love for us, there is also an immense hatred for us from our adversary, Satan and he will do anything, anything, to separate us from God’s love. He knows the power that’s behind it. He knows the blessings we will have and he doesn’t want us to have any of them. None.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

Satan does not want us to know who we are in God’s eyes. He doesn’t want us to experience peace and joy. He doesn’t want us to be healthy and whole. He only wants the worst for us. He’s doing the happy dance right now seeing people sick, dying, fighting, and killing because his purpose is to destroy us.

 You see, he hates God for kicking him and his minions out of heaven. He hates all of God’s creation too and that includes us. He hates us more than we hate each other if you can imagine that.

I say this to help you understand that there is evil in this world, but it does not come from God. There is hatred in this world, but it does not come from God. It’s impossible. God is love and nothing evil can come from love. Oh.. if people could only know this love!
 
Can you imagine what a world we’d have? If people truly knew in their guts that they were loved no matter what, I wonder how their lives would change. If they only knew who God and His Son Jesus really were – had a vibrant relationship with them, what they could accomplish!
 
Lives would be changed. Marriages would be saved. Illnesses would be cured. These and so much more are the promises of God for all those who believe. My own life has been radically transformed because of this knowledge. My faith saved me from a pit so deep I thought I’d drown. Learning more about who I am in God’s eyes, through His Son, has been life-changing.
 
I only wish that more people could experience what I have over these last few years. I’ve committed myself to doing all I can to share this with as many people as I can because I know firsthand how a relationship with God and His Son changes and saves lives.
 
Today is Pentecost – the day when the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. They received power, might, and ability to share this  good news to all the nations. Today I pray that this same Holy Spirit reveals the love of God to you in a new way so that you will know, that you know, that you know, that you are loved beyond words for all time.
 
If you are feeling like all hope is lost, that God has abandoned you, that the world has failed you, I’d like to strongly (strongly, strongly…) encourage you to watch this video. As you listen to the lyrics, let its message sink into your spirit. Let God speak to your heart. Click here to watch.
 
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV)