It’s All Good — Love Life, Love Others

Sometimes I sit in my chair and just think about what I want to do with my life. You would think that at my age, I would already have that figured out. After all, I am retired, and my dreams should have already been accomplished. My stamina and health are not the same as when I was younger. Now I am supposed to just sit back and love my good ole’ “Golden Years.” Right?

But we both know that is not the way to think! God has poured out countless blessings on my life, and I know He is not finished with me. What I have realized more as I have grown older, is that my life is not my own anymore. I am called to pour out my life for others and to share with them about the amazing love and goodness of God.  The dreams I had when I was younger are definitely nowhere as satisfying as my dreams now.

Good News! God’s Love is Perfect!

You see, one of the gifts of getting older is to know beyond a doubt that God is so so good. All my life He has been faithful, even in the darkest times. Even when I turn my back, He’s still there with His arms open wide, just waiting for me to turn around. Even when I get angry at life and what feels like injustice, He never waivers or gives up on me. That is quite different from others in our lives, isn’t it? He listens to my complaints and doesn’t get angry. He doesn’t turn His back, tell me I’m wrong, or walk away. He simply holds me close, dries my tears, and loves me, no matter what.

There is absolutely NO ONE who can love me like He does. When the “humans” in my life disappoint me, hurt me, and even make me feel unloved, He never will. Sometimes I just have to remind myself of that fact — His goodness is perfect. Sometimes I need to just stop trying to find my value in what others think of me. Instead, I need to simply rest in His perfect love. It’s the best solution anyway. This world is full of pain. This world does not have the answers. Everyone can disappoint us.

Feeling Unworthy of Love

I know you can relate, can’t you? Some days are so lonely, even with people all around you. You just want someone to see you and assure you that you are valuable and loved. Oh, my dear one, He sees you. I promise you, He really does. You are more than precious to Him. Nothing you do will ever change His love for you. That’s good news to hold on to!

So, how do we respond to His love? You may wonder, how can I learn to love when I’ve never had real love before? Or maybe you are suspicious of His love because you have been let down too many times.

Goodness and Love, Not Lies!

You and I both know that it is hard to give love when you don’t feel it, when you feel unloved yourself. Do you look in the mirror and doubt your worth? Have you been fed negative messages from your family? “What a waste you are! Look at you! You are not smart or good enough. You don’t matter.” Do you wonder if you will ever feel the happiness of being accepted just as you are? Has your spouse rejected you? Has he made you feel insignificant, or worse, invisible? What messages do you tell yourself? “Why am I so boring and plain-looking? Everyone is smarter than me; I’m so dumb. I make one mistake after another — I cannot do anything right. I really don’t matter to anyone. No one will ever love me.”

God wants you to know that all of those are LIES! He sees your beauty; He knows your worth. You are so valuable to Him that He even died to show you! He loves you perfectly.

Perfect Love — the Never-ending Goodness of God

Want to hear something else that is pretty awesome? He knows that we mess up every day, and He keeps on forgiving us and loving us! Unbelievable, isn’t it? That is some kind of love – He is crazy about you and me!! And he even washes us clean every morning! “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Why would we ever want to walk away from His goodness and love?

So, now I know my purpose and what I will do with the rest of my life – “with every breath that I am able, I will sing about the goodness of God.”

This beautiful song inspires me and brings me to tears: (https://youtu.be/9sE5kEnitqE)

Prayer:

Dear Father,

We know we are not worthy of Your amazing love for us. But in truth, there is nothing we can do to become worthy! That makes us even more thankful for the beautiful gift of Your son, Jesus, who changed our lives forever and made us beloved daughters of the King!  Father, this world keeps trying to step on our value and make us feel defeated. Keep reminding us that Your steadfast love never ceases! You are always faithful and so good.

In Jesus’ name, Amen