An Everlasting Love

In church school I learned that Jesus loved us. I've believed it all my life. As an adult I became the teacher who taught God's love in church school classes, Bible studies, churches, & confrerenes around the world. I thought I really understood how much God cares for us. But then tragedy hit. I was forced to reach into the spiritual well within me, and i came up lacking. I asked the Lord why good people suffer. NIght & day I prayed, pleading with God to either perform a tangible miracle or change my heart & remove the pain. I felt abandoned.

Then I decided I simply must discover the magnitued of God's love & learn to know him on a deeper spiritual level. i coudln't depend on circumstances for proof of his love and approval. Even though I had been through trails before, I still needed to learn that his love transcends both good & bad circumstances. That is when he spoke clearly to me through

JEREMIAH 31:3
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindess."

The words struck me hard, like bolts of lightning. I was stunned, overwhelmed. It was as though God personally put his loving arms around me & said, "Marie, I dont promise that my children will never suffer in this life, but I assure you that throughe very experience I'll love you with love that is everlasting. I'll constantly draw you to myself with my loving-kindess in spite of anything that you're experiencing."

The magnitude of his love--even through sorrow and tragedy--revolutionzed my life. Jeremiah 31:3 became my life verse. I labeled myself a "Loved Person," and I"ve continued to believe it. Though I've lived through other hardships since that time, i've never lost my awareness of his love for me.

God wants us to participate in this love relationship because it is the foundation of life. This love is everlasting. Unchanging. forever. We can each consider ourselves a Loved Person, not because of our circumstances or situations but simply because God loves us perfectly, totally, & eternally.

*AUTHOR:MARIE CHAPIAN(Women's Devotional Bible)