LOVE ABIDES  

And now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three but the greatest of these is love.     1 Corinthians 13:13

To think that love abides in the throes of loss is most difficult to reconcile.  Pain is not often equated with love.  When loss comes and grief follows, love is challenging.  Hope is weak.  Sorrow stays; for a time.  In a society that emphasizes the euphoria of love, the truth of love’s abiding presence even in sad times seems impossible.  Because of Jesus, all is possible.  Because of Jesus, love abides.

Love does not leave when loss comes.  It abides in a different form.  It lives in memories, character, witness, and possibilities.  A range of years or a speck of experience in love moves to transform, better, and ennoble love’s recipients.  When love is known in Jesus, love has a supernatural quality that transcends human knowledge and feelings so love can thrive in a new way.  This may be difficult to see, feel or believe in times of sorrow.   But Jesus is the reason why love abides and reveals itself in new ways.

If you or someone you know is going through a season of grief that is painful and is seems as though all hope is gone, know that the Lord understands this grief.  Better than the griever.  Grief brings a maze of emotions and can confuse thinking and blur perspective.  The Lord can and does make meaning out of loss when He is invited to do so.  Asking Jesus for help and healing is to receive it.  Although it may be a long walk through a season of grief, Jesus will be your companion through it.  Jesus Himself will be the steady source of strength to uphold you.

Loss may make people reticent to love again, care or be cared for.  This is normal for a time.  But hope in Jesus is life-giving.  And for as long as life continues, it is the hope of Jesus’ heart that love will abide. While grief’s stay brings its web of challenges, grief does eventually ebb and leave.  When it does, love in its new form is clear.  Love, as promised in God’s Word, does abide.

Lord Jesus, You are the strength in times of human weakness.  You are the One to make meaning out of love’s mystery.  Thank You, Jesus, for being the reason why and how love abides—no matter what.  Kindly bring hope to those who need to be reminded again of Your sustaining touch and renewing Spirit.  In Thee, Lord Jesus, Amen.

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