Where is Love?

So many of us have asked the following question with earnest intent: What is love? We wonder what does it feel like? How does it smell? Like small children, we wonder where we can find it. Regardless of race, religion, or view these questions circulate in and around.

Like sojourners we search for the definition of love. For some of us, love is hearing the phrase, “I love you.” For others, having the best material things signifies that you are loved. I remember searching for love and feeling like there was none left for me.

I struggled with my appearance as a teenager. I saw myself as this scrawny little girl with not much to say. I wanted to be liked and accepted by everyone but thought that I wasn’t good enough to fit in any crowd. While staring in the mirror with tears streaming down my face I’d wonder, “Why doesn’t anyone love me? Why am I so skinny? Why do I always get singled out when trying to be included?” I felt abandoned.

I eventually began expressing my frustrations to God. One day after having a rough time at school, I asked Him a sincere question. I recall the puddle of tears on my bedroom floor as I sobbed in despair. Will you marry me? Because no one accepts me for me and you can accept me. I pleaded with God that day and sooner than later I realized that He heard me.

God began waking me up early in the mornings. I would pray for Him to speak to me. When I began hearing from God, He expressed His love for me and desire to take away my pain. As I surrendered, I became a new person and others recognized the difference. I stopped verbally beating myself up. I did not listen to the words of haters anymore. I smiled more often and wanted everyone to experience God’s love.

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 AMP

God loves you so much that He gave part of Himself to die in your place. He does not want you to carry guilt, bitterness, or unforgiveness any longer. That burden is too heavy to carry. He wants to fill you with His love. It is greater than your past.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16 NLT

The love is inside of you! No need to look for it in all the wrong places. You don’t have to search any further.

Prayer for Love

Dear Savior,

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for caring so much about me. I don’t have to confide in money, media, or relationships to find You. In your Word, I have safety and security. I confess that You died on the cross because You love me. I confess that You rose again with power and authority because of this great love. Fill me with more of your love. Show me how to love myself and others with this love. Forgive me for ever displaying hatred to others and myself. You have called me to be beacon of light in this world. Because of You, I am free.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen.