I have been out of town without the resources to make my normal posts last Wednesday through Friday. But the experiences I had at convention reminded me even further that it’s important how we act especially in the face of adversity, and love one another even when we disagree. It’s important to remember who is ultimately in charge, and know with absolute certainty where we should place our trust: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

He knows His plans, and we have to trust that in following Him (and not running after the bouncing ball), He WILL make our paths straight. When we choose to follow the crowd instead of the Lord, it’s easy to have our feelings hurt and become far too emotional. That’s because when we choose to be offended, our eyes are on ourselves and not our Lord. And in our prideful state, we can feel angry, unloving and unlovable.

How many of us know in our hearts that we are loved by a Father whose affection for us is limitless? Sometimes we struggle with this truth. The Israelites did. They wondered if their trials meant God no longer loved them. But in Jeremiah 31:3, the prophet reminds them of what God said in the past: “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. We too long for such unconditional love. Yet the wounds, disappointments, and mistakes we experience can make us feel anything but lovable. But God opens His arms—the arms of a perfect Father—and invites us to experience and rest in His love, where He says, “I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”.

I don’t know about you, but I definitely had my years as a prodigal daughter. As I look back on the times that I escaped what could have been more painful situations, I know it was the Lord watching out for me and drawing me to Him, and making my paths straight–even when my eyes weren’t on Him.

Lord, hard things in our lives can tempt us to believe we are unlovable. But You say otherwise. Please help us to receive the life-transforming gift of Your everlasting love for us, and to share Your love with others so that we love one another as You love us!