Trudy

Love That Never Hurts, Betrays, or Abandons Us

“The world today is hungry
Not only for bread
But hungry for love;
Hungry to be wanted,
Hungry to be loved.”
~ Mother Teresa ~

Is your heart aching when you think of Valentine’s Day? Did you lose loved ones recently? Or do you feel unwanted and unloved?

There are many legends surrounding the origin of Valentine’s Day, but many of us see it as a day set aside to show others we care and to remind them they are loved and appreciated.

It’s always a comfort to be remembered, but many will experience that ache of loved ones lost either by death or some other way, even after many years. Others feel all alone in the world and unloved with not even a memory of ever being loved.

Perhaps some of you carry a distorted view of what love is because of abuse or neglect, whether in the past or the present. I know I did. Often it takes time to heal and trust even God because of suffering devastating betrayal from someone we trusted. Because of someone who was supposed to value, nurture, and protect us instead of hurt us.

People can hurt, betray, or abandon us. But Jesus’ love is like a bottomless ocean. It will never, ever empty. It will always and forever remain faithful. It will always nurture, not hurt.

Jesus willingly took on the heavy burden of sin. Our sin and the sin of those who have hurt us. All our sins are washed away and all our hurts can be healed and redeemed through Jesus and the blood He shed for us. He willingly died in our place because He loves us so deeply. He suffered excruciating, unbearable pain as whips slashed His flesh and nails pierced his hands and feet. Unspeakable anguish as the Father withdrew His presence. He was forsaken by God so we would never have to be forsaken. Incomprehensible, immeasurable, immutable love. So beyond our understanding that it can never be understood by our human minds. So infinite it can never be measured. So firmly established that it will never change.

“Greater love has no one than this:
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13

heartoflove

What Is Love?

by Helen Steiner Rice

What is love? No words can define it—
It’s something so great
only God could design it.
For love means much more
than small words can express,
For what we call love is very much less
Than the beauty and depth
and the true riches of
God’s gift to mankind—
His compassionate love.

God Loves and Understands

by Helen Steiner Rice

It’s amazing and incredible,
But it’s as true as it can be,
God loves and understands us all
And that means you and me–
His grace is all sufficient
For both the young and old,
For the lonely and the timid,
For the brash and for the bold–
His love knows no exceptions,
So never feel excluded,
No matter what your past has been,
Trust God to understand,
And no matter what your problem is
Just place it in His Hand–
For in all of our unloveliness
This great God loves us still,
He loved us since the world began,
And what’s more, He always will!

No Greater Love
by Colton Dixon

“What kind of love would stand in the flames
And choose to remain there beside me?
What kind of love would go to the grave
Give up everything just to find me?
Of all the treasure that this world would offer me
You’re the only thing I need…

Your love is never changing
Your love will always be my home
And though this world will fail me
Your love will never let me go
No greater love
No greater love
No greater love
Than Yours…”

“May your roots go down deep
into the soil of God’s marvelous love;
and may you be able to feel and understand,
as all God’s children should,
how long, how wide, how deep,
and how high His love really is.”
Ephesians 3:17b-18 TLB

24 comments

  1. Oh the sweet, sweet love of Jesus! Deep, unchanging, always present, rock solid yet tender, loving, and kind.

    More than ever I’m so grateful He never changes like shifting shadows. i can’t even begin to imagine where I’d be without Him …

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    • Thank you, Martha. I’m so grateful it moves you to be thankful for God’s endless love through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. It is His love that will carry you through the heavy trial you’re going through. May we cling to Him and His promise that His grace is sufficient! Blessings to you, too!

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  3. Thank you, Trudy. This is a beautiful reminder of the greatest love of all. I love the song and the Mother Teresa quote too. It makes such a difference when we understand God’s love for us. Praying that you know his perfect love for you this Valentine’s Day!

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  4. Thank you, Trudy, for these precious thoughts today. They feel like such a warm hug from the Lord, as Helen Steiner Rice was one of my Mom’s favorite poets, and I’ve been missing her these last few weeks. What a sweet gift from Him, to come here and read these words about His special love. He truly sees and gives us the greatest love of all. May you be especially blessed this week, my friend! Hugs and love to you! xoxo

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    • Oh, I’m so glad it feels like a warm hug from the Lord, Bettie. Now that you say it, I do remember Helen Steiner Rice was one of your mom’s favorites. She has such a special way of writing God’s truth. When did your mom pass away? I get times like that, too, even though it will be 14 years ago on February 18. No matter how long it has been, our hearts still feel that missing ache, right? I pray you will keep feeling God’s warm hugs! Special blessings, hugs and love to you, too! May we fix our hearts on the immeasurable, unchanging love of Jesus!

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  5. “People can hurt, betray, or abandon us. But Jesus’ love is like a bottomless ocean. It will never, ever empty. It will always and forever remain faithful. It will always nurture, not hurt.” I’ll never look at oceans now without seeing Jesus’ bottomless love. Thank you, Trudy ,for keeping on being a reflection of His bottomless love.

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    • It’s such a comfort to know His love is bottomless, isn’t it, Lynn? Thank you for your kind words. I do desire to be a reflection of His love. May we together do ever deeper into His love for us and reflect that love to everyone around us!

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  6. Valentine’s Day is not my favorite but that is based on how the world views this day. I am not married so the world would look at me as someone who is unloved. The good thing is that I am loved more than I can imagine by my Father in Heaven who looks at me as if I am the only person in the room. What a gift! Thank you for this beautiful post!

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    • Oh, that’s so sad, Mary. Yes, the world does put too much emphasis on couples and does overlook singles. 😦 Yes, you are loved far more than you can imagine by our Father! I always love Isaiah 54 where it says our Maker is our Husband. 🙂 There is no greater Husband than He is! And I love you, too, and am so grateful for you! May we cling to the love of our Father whose love can never compare with anyone!

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  7. This is such a beautiful, comforting and encouraging post that speaks directly to our hearts. I love the poem by Helen Steiner Rice and the Mother Teresa quote. The song is perfect too. Oh how the world needs to know it is seen, appreciated and loved! And there can be nothing better for binding up our wounded hearts than the all-embracing love of God. I’m savouring these words today: “Jesus’ love is like a bottomless ocean. It will never, ever empty. It will always and forever remain faithful. It will always nurture, not hurt.” Amen! Thank you for this glorious reminder, Trudy. It’s one we need to turn to time and again. Blessings, love and grateful hugs to you, sweet friend! xo ❤

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  8. Trudy, what a beautiful post. I have spent a lot of time pondering 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 this week. I’ve read this passage for years, but when I stop to really dig deeper into how this verse is defining love, I’m amazed at the depth of our Father’s love for us. Thank you so much for sharing this post. It spoke to my heart!

    I hope your weekend is a good one!

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    • Yes, His love truly is amazing, Jeanne. I had considered including those verses, too. I’m so glad this post spoke to your heart! I hope your weekend is a good one, too! May we cling to His deep and unfailing love!

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  10. These are all beautiful thoughts, Trudy. Valentine’s Day can be a mixed bag of emotions, that’s for sure. I especially missed my mom this week … more than I even expected to. I’m grateful for the love of family and friends, but even more grateful for God’s unconditional love. Love and hugs to you, my friend!

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    • Yes, it truly can be a “mixed bag of emotions,” Lois. My heart aches for you in the missing of your mom. God’s unconditional love is such a comfort and support in those tough times, isn’t it? Love and hugs to you, too! May our roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love!

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    • I’m grateful for you, too, Lisa! I didn’t know Colton Dixon was on American Idol. I love this song. It’s such a wonder that even when the world fails us, God’s love will never, ever fail us! May we cling always to His love and pass it on to others!

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