"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
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 19 December 2025.
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