"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him" (1 John 3:1).
Ever since I was a teen, I have struggled with the concept of love. To be loved by someone sounded impossible. My family was not an "I love you" type of family. I thought this was normal for every family until I got to college. Upon going to a Bible college, I was flooded with friends telling other friends "Love you" before separating ways.
I thought this was strange since I had not really heard the word "love" said too often. Now, I was somewhere where people threw around the word "love" like it was candy. Sadly, this only made me more distrustful of the word because love goes deeper than a mindless "love you."
Love is more profound because it is rooted in self-sacrifice. It is not easily angered, bothered, or provoked (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).
As I have grown older, I have come to discover the eternal love of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The love that comes from God is everlasting and eternal. Even though we don't "feel" God's love all the time, it is always with us. The love He has for us will never waver or fade away. As someone who had been so distrustful of love in the past, God's love finally made sense.
It was not polluted in a desire to be accepted or a lack of genuine concern. Instead, His love is rooted in His very nature (1 John 4:8). Since God is love, we know His love is authentic, sure, and steadfast. It took me a long time to finally accept, but when I did, God's love changed my life.
Paul tells us, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
We can place faith in Jesus and still not fully grasp His love. Salvation is not a matter of our securities or self-assurance. Instead, salvation is based on Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). We can still have insecurities, struggles, and difficulties even after knowing the Lord as our Savior. I went through extensive therapy, and on the other side, I discovered that God loved me because I existed. He did not create me for no reason—He made me because He loved me.
The same is true for all people, including yourself. God loves you, and you are a beloved child of the King. The Apostle John tells us, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him" (1 John 3:1). As John tells us, we are children of God because of His great love for us.
The world does not know us because it did not know Him. This is why we are often ridiculed and persecuted for our faith. The world is not full of love, but God is. Rather than running after the world and the false feelings of love, we need to run toward God. We are His children, and we are dearly loved. Once we accept and believe in God's love, our lives change.
Rather than living with a heart of self-doubt and insecurities, we will find lasting peace in the Lord. His love will cover us, and we will be more confident in our own lives. Even if we don't have anyone else who loves us in this world, we have the love of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This love will endure forever, and one day, we will pass from this life into the next. At this time, we will fully understand that we are loved and known by God Himself.
Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37-39).
"Dear God, thank You for loving me. I have often struggled with the concept of love, but You have made it clear to me that love is rooted in You. You sent Your Son to die for my sins and to give me everlasting life in His Name. All of this is because of Your great love. Your love is amazing, and I praise You for your love, blessings, and friendship. In Your Son's Name, I pray, Amen."
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
Related Resource: CMA Country Christmas Artists Share Their Stories of Faith
The Christmas season is a beautiful time when the light of faith often breaks through in the most surprising and wonderful ways—and sometimes, right on prime-time television! We love watching artists who sing and speak from their hearts and who have shared their Jesus Calling journey with us, step onto the world’s biggest stages. We’ll revisit powerful moments of inspiration and deep connection from GRAMMY award winning artists Bebe Winans and Hillary Scott from Lady A, plus CMA Song of the Year Award winner Jordan Davis, who will also be co-hosting this CMA Country Christmas special.
Originally published Friday, 19 December 2025.
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