Some say love is a feeling, but I believe it’s a choice. It’s choosing to love, even if and when we don’t feel like it.
I never fully comprehended this kind of love until I walked through divorce. The kind of Christ-like love that chooses not to retaliate or repay evil for evil. To choose to keep my eyes up and on Christ and off of myself and my circumstances. To choose love in the face of betrayal and a broken heart.
Choosing love does not ignore or excuse poor behavior and abuse.
Choosing love does not put a pretty face on heartbreaking circumstances.
Choosing love releases us from trying to right the wrongs ourselves.
Choosing love is to firmly plant our faith in Christ and trust His ways.
It is only by the grace of God that we can walk through any fire. More than this, we can do it without looking like it or smelling like it. If you’ve spent any time around a campfire then you know how quickly and how long the scent of burning wood lingers on everything. It is pretty obvious that you’ve spent time around a fire when you do.
As I recount the many ways the Lord has been faithful in my life, it’s His protection over my heart that I am so very grateful for. My heart has been crushed over and over the past 10+ years, but I write to you today with a heart that is still tender and open to love. The world would have given me permission to be bitter and angry. In fact, this is how many people would expect to experience me when they learn of my story of loss upon loss. But God. He has held my heart and led me on a journey of love and long-suffering as I have walked through the valleys that have threatened to take me out.
I have one very vivid memory from when I was walking through one of the hardest seasons of my life. I think back on this memory often. I was crying over the fact that my heart felt compassion for those who had hurt and betrayed me. It made no sense whatsoever that I would feel this way. I wanted to be the one people felt sorry for. After all, I had been the one betrayed and drug through the mud. Surely this wasn’t the goodness of my flesh feeling compassion for my enemies. I knew it was the Lord. Now I can look back and see His Spirit at work in that moment. As my heart was breaking, He was keeping my heart tender. He was keeping me from becoming bitter.
Even though I didn’t like the feeling at the time, I thank the Lord often for such moments. They changed the trajectory of my life. I’m grateful that I didn’t forfeit the story I get to tell today for what would have felt good in the moment. I have tasted, and I have seen the goodness of the Lord through my story of loss and grief. I know first hand that our Heavenly Father doesn’t just observe our lives from afar, but He steps into our pain and leads us through heartache with eternity in mind.
I want to know and be led by the Word because only the Word lasts forever.
When we live by faith and not by our feelings, we will live and look differently than the world. John 13:35 is a great reminder that “Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples — if you have love for one another.”
May we be known by our love…. our love for God, His Word, and people.
———————————————-
Join us as we study God’s Word using the Triumph Over Trials: 1 & 2 Peter study!
Grab your journal today and dive in!
