Week 34

Am I loved?

This question runs through so many young peoples heads. Even old people sometimes long to hear those few but powerful words. I love you.

So many people assume children know they are loved without having to tell them everyday. But the truth is, it never hurts to say it again. So many children everywhere have asked the question:

Am I loved?

Sure, my mom says she loves me, but she doesn't have time for me.

Yeah, my dad loves me, but he hardly stops working to eat dinner with us.

Yes, I can see that I am loved. But am I really?

Have you ever stopped and though of this question yourself. When you were young, or if you are, have you ever stopped and asked:

Am I loved?

I know I have.

No I am not an orphan.

Yes I have parents who love me and spend time with me.

 Yes I have lots of siblings to love me.

But the question still hangs in the air:

Am I loved?

Every day (since I am homeschooled) I see my mom. Every day I am with my siblings. For hours and hours I see them, hardly getting a break to take a minute and breath. But that doesn't stop this question:

Am I loved?

My siblings never stop what they are doing just to tell me I am loved. My dad never stops to say "I love you." And even if they do would it be enough to stop this question from overtaking my entire being:

Am I loved?
And eventually I have nothing left in me. I am spent. I am so depressed I can no longer stand. I can't look someone in the eye without bursting into tears- and how am I supposed to explain my feeling now? You may not know it, and I didn't at first either, but sometimes love is the reason for depression.
Am I loved?
Yes. You are. God has this amazing plan for you. He knows you need love. And you must trust that He knows what He's doing with your life. I know you've heard this a million times before, and I pray that somehow this time it will be different. I pray that God may show love to you. And that you will know that you are loved. Because Love itself loves you. And that is the best love of all.
 

Romans 8:31-39 The Message (MSG) So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

 

Choose to Love by Francesca Battestelli

 

(I am sorry that this is posted a week late, please forgive me. Also this weeks devotion will be posted later on this week. Thanks for your patience. I hope you enjoyed this weeks devotion.)