#3

No matter what.

No matter what has happened in our past or is happening in our present or will happen in our future, God loves us. Nothing can ever separate us from that love. We may have trouble forgiving ourselves or others for what has happened, but God does not.

He yearns to have us run to Him and ask for forgiveness. To stretch out our arms like little children and ask Him to hold us and love us. He yearns for it.

Just as we feel when a child has been lost and is now found, so God feels about us. All we want to do with that found child is hug them and reassure them they are safe and they are loved. We hold them close, never wanting to let them go. God does that with us. It doesn’t matter what we have done, how we have behaved or treated Him or others. God embraces us, holding us close to His heart, where each heartbeat whispers “I love you, I love you.”

And when we tell Him what we have done or said that has hurt someone, He whispers, “I know, Beloved. You are right to have told me, but put that behind you now and forget it as I have done, for I love you. You are more important to me than anything else. I sent my Son to die for you. For you. Even if you had been the only one in the whole world for the whole of time, I sent Him for you. So that you and I can be together for eternity. I know, my Beloved.”

He may ask you to apologise or take some action to right a wrong. He loves the one who has been hurt too, for they are also His creation. He may ask you to forgive them for a wrong done to you. He will go with you and help you to complete these assignments. And relationships will be restored with His guidance.

Tell Him about anything and everything that is blocking your relationship with Him. He knows about them anyway but He wants you to recognise these barricades, so both of you can put them behind you. Tell Him all of it.

For He loves you and yearns to hold you close. No matter what.

Some Scriptures to ponder:

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Romans 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

Romans 8:38-39 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.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.