He loves me. Really?

Have you ever wondered if God really loves you? I had a woman say to me once, “I’m just not one of His favorite children.” I think we all feel that way at times.

Puritan writer John Owen assures us of God’s love and reminds us that “. . . it is received purely by believing.” Mental acknowledgement of God’s love is not enough - we must receive it in faith. As we do, we will begin to experience Him on an emotional level and, over time, His love will become more sure and real to us than anything else. Owen goes on to say this, “If you believe and receive the Father as love, He will infallibly be so to you, though others may fall under His severity.”*

Why is it hard simply to accept God’s love? I think it is because we realize we are not always lovable. In fact, sometimes I think that if I were God, I would be ready to give up on me. I just am not where I want to be in my spiritual life and I imagine He must be getting quite tired of me coming back to Him with the same old sins to confess and the same old worries to present.

Sometimes, it's a struggle. Then He speaks something like this to my discouraged soul: "You are securely connected to Me.​

• I will never change my mind about you. • I already know who you are and how you will finish. • I will never let you go. • I will never stop blessing you."

He makes no excuses for me, but He accepts me as I am. He knows I am dust and I will fall. He knows I am weak and I will stumble. But still He pours out His love and, when I open myself to receive it, I am ready to begin again. He always welcomes me.

He will never give up on me. And He won’t give up on you, either. Not ever.

"When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul." (Psalm 94:19)

*John Owen, Communion with God (Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, p. 70.