A Love So Big

I think the reason I often think about and try to understand God’s love for me is because it is something so big I cannot grasp it. His love is never-ending, unconditional, undeserved by me, strong, and so many other amazing things. Here is a bit of what God has been showing me about His love lately – if I can even put it into words.

A few weeks ago the first five words of the song “How He Loves” really sunk into my heart. Ever since I heard this song I thought it was amazing, but these words did not really stand out – then boom, there it was. “He is jealous for me.” Woah. I hate the feeling of jealous – I do not like to feel it and I do not like it when others have to either. When a close friend, loved one, or even just a dumb crush is spending time with other people and you want to have that time with them, it does not feel good. I believe jealousy is a very strong feeling, especially if you love the person. God loves us and is jealous for us. That is just so strange for me to think about. It is difficult for me to even imagine. His love is bigger than any kind of love we can even dream of. His ways are higher than mine; His love is bigger than mine. I am causing God this painful jealousy when I give my attention to stupid things instead of Him on a daily basis. Gross. What the heck am I doing? Though I continue in my selfish ways, He continues to love me and bless me with His beauty. Dang. How He loves us.

The Lord is also continuously telling me to love people as Christ loves. He forgives always – it is forgotten. How often do I forgive and not forget. He hung out with and loved those that society pushed aside. We are to love the least – something I desire to do, but do not really know how. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 says, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other...” Let’s do it – love so big.

Lately I have been loving the book of Hosea. Hosea’s wife was adulterous, but God told Hosea to return to her and love her. It talks about how the Israelites turned away from God and could not understand when God helped them. Though they were adulterous, God loved them still – He loves His children. We are like Hosea’s wife, the Israelites, and so many others, either turning from God or just putting something small (like Facebook) before Him. Like the father in the prodigal’s son, He waits, welcomes us with a big hug, and celebrates at our full return to Him – whether returning from a total denial or returning to just spend a little more time with Him. Though we are weak and adulterous, God loves us the same – with a giant love.

I kind of feel like my relationship and love with the Lord should be like that of a husband and wife. His love is so big.