I don’t know about you, but I swear I have felt my heart break. We’ve all been here somehow: The first rejection, where they didn’t love us back. When we can’t contact a loved one anymore, when we can’t heal someone’s hurt, the bad marks and the criticism at work, or when it just wasn’t good enough. When we tried so hard, and yet it wasn’t enough. It stabs deep, doesn’t it?
Those three little words, I. Love. You. So small, and yet often, so terrifying. It’s scary to admit we love someone. You’re putting yourself in their hands, giving everything and hoping, just maybe, they might return it. It’s terrifying, but at some point, you have to say it because, at some point, they’ll know. We’re trained, even as children, that emotion means vulnerability. No matter how blissful your childhood was, at some point, you became aware that showing you care means you can be rejected. Maybe you still know the feeling all too well. I think most of us do, to some level. Sometimes, it’s even to the level where we ask if we can be loved. Can we?It’s hard to see true love in a world full of pain and sadness. This is understood throughout the Bible, as even David (a man after God’s own heart, as seen in Acts 13:22) struggled to see God’s love sometimes, crying, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Psalm 22:1 NAB). These words were echoed even by God’s own Son, Jesus, as His flesh tore upon the cross. If even God’s own son felt this way, of course, we do too. But Jesus, David, and you and I also know that we are not alone, no matter how much it feels like we are. God has promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:35-39) and to let Him take all our worries because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Disillusioned with Love?
But how can we know and feel this love?
Firstly, we are not judged for wondering if God is there for us and for struggling to feel His love. Again, this is seen many times as we understand that even the heroes of history struggled as we do (for example, see Psalms 13:1-2, Psalms 44:23-24, Job 7:20). However, God’s love is consistently seen as he responds, “Come, let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV) and affirms us that He has plans for our future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Although the world is painful and broken, God has not rejected us in it: but instead welcomes us to find refuge (Psalm 57) and to tell him about our worries.
God wants us to talk to Him about it, no matter how far away we feel from Him. He promises to forgive and listen to us as long as we come to Him openly (Psalm 145:18-19). I like to think about it in terms of the prodigal son, as seen in Luke 15:11-24. The father didn’t chase the son but rather let him go to fulfill his right to free will. But the father still waited, hoping the son would return, and he welcomed him with open arms. This reassures us of two things: God’s love and his commitment. Although we chose to be able to feel the effects of sin in Eden (Genesis 3:3-6), God has not rejected us, and instead ‘is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit’ (Psalm 34:18 RSV).
Although our representation of the world’s love isn’t perfect -far from it- we do not have to remain disillusioned with it. God promises that He loves us and has saved us as we choose to continue to believe in Him and His love (Ephesians 2:8-10). He encourages us to remain positive, gentle, and hopeful regardless of the world’s cruelty, as through it all, He is near (Philippians 4:4-7).Again, I leave you with this reminder: although the world may reject us all at times, God always welcomes us with open arms and utter love. He listens, cares, and encourages us to have hope in this world of darkness: ‘for the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5 NIV). God has overcome whatever rejection or sadness you are facing, so have hope. We have the light on our side.
About the Author
Azaria is a passionate young writer devoted to exploring and sharing the truth of God’s Word. With a heart for faith and a love for storytelling, she seeks to inspire and engage readers on their spiritual journeys.
Azaria Jones
NSW, Australia
