God is Love. 1 John 4:8

I find this amazing! God is love; it is his nature to love us. He didn’t learn to love once he created us. He has always loved since he has always been a triune God. I like to picture the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dancing over the deep before creating anything. They were in relationship expressing love to each other. They poured out themselves in a self-giving, self-sacrificing way. They always thought of the others first. They have never quit doing this.

They did not need to create us- they needed nothing from us. They chose to create because it brings them joy to share love with us.

And of the billions of people that are on this planet, he knows you personally.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world. Ephesians 1v4

You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139v13

The lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. Isaiah 49v1

Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not. Luke 12v7

The God of the universe wants to know you personally. It is not about rules and regulations, restrictions and dogma. He doesn’t want your tithes and offerings (I desire mercy, and not sacrifice- Hosea 6v6), He wants a relationship with you.

That feels hard sometimes. Either our guilt and shame make this hard to believe, or it feels like too much work, but once we stop trying to earn it and just live in His grace, our hearts start to feel lighter.

You are his beloved. You are beloved. Allow yourself to be loved! Once the truth of this starts to sink in, the burden of trying to earn it slips away, and when struggles come upon you, you are free to say:

“God, I have no idea why this is happening to me, but I know you love me dearly. Whether there is something I am supposed to learn from my circumstances, or whether I am supposed to just trust, I will lean into you and the love you so freely give.”