Hi beautiful friend!
We are in the middle of February (and getting closer to Valentine’s Day every moment), so I am sure you have been inundated by all the things when it comes to the topic of love.
The marketing materials + commercials we’ve been seeing all month long have been doing their best to explain to you what love is, what it looks like, what it’s priced at, etc. And those marketing folks are doing their very best to make you think these things they are selling somehow equates to the amount of love someone has for you.
Not only that, but they want you to believe that this materialistic symbol of love (flowers, chocolates, jewelry, etc.) will be satisfying to you and fulfill all your heart’s longings + desires. (Btw, I am not knocking these marketing folks at all! I happen to be a “marketing folk” myself, which is why I am able to see clearly through these messages. haha)
But what if we compared the world’s standard of love (these expensive, material gifts) to the Bible’s standard of love? Do we see more similarities or more differences? Let’s take a look for ourselves…
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NKJV
In these verses what sticks out to you the most?
For me, it is the actions + attitudes of the heart are what equate to love. Sure someone can utilize these materialistic gifts to show you love. (After all, receiving gifts is a love language!)
But as a woman who has previously found find her identity + worth in her relationship/marital status and the way others thought and/or treated me, I am passionate about reminding you that
YOU ARE LOVED no matter what situation you may find yourself in today - married, single, divorced, separated, in the midst of a complicated situation, whatever it is.
I know first hand the struggle it is to feel and believe you are loved when you’re in the messy middle of a difficult marriage.
But the Truth doesn’t change.
And what is that Truth?
There is a man named Jesus who loves you so very much that He literally lived, laid down His life, and died for you, Reader!
Jesus came into this world just to be an atonement for your sins!
That includes the sins other people know about and the ones they don't.
No matter how bad you've messed up. No matter how ugly things have been. No matter how shameful the things are you may have done. No matter, no matter, no matter...
He still loves and died for you, Reader!!
Even when you were a sinner, walking away from Him in disobedience + rebellion, choosing the way of complete darkness, Jesus chose to love you in those moments as He saw you for who you truly are. And because He loves you for you, He died to bring you into a right relationship with our Heavenly Father.
God’s word does not change, and neither does Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What a blessing!!
That means no matter what may change - the world’s standard of love, someone's rejection of you, someone else abandoning you + no longer desiring to stick out the difficult times with you, etc. - Jesus is still there with you. He never leaves you nor forsakes you.
He is dependable.
He is faithful.
He loves you (and has loved you) at your lowest and He STILL says you are His.
The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
-Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV
If you are feeling weary, tired, overwhelmed, discouraged, and/or disappointed by what is going on around you today (for any reason) I encourage you to look up at Jesus for He has said:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
-Matthew 11:28 NKJV
This invitation is not just for a quick breath above water for you just continue to drown in life's sea of chaos.
No, Reader. This invitation is to live your life with Him at the center again.
It is an invitation to appreciate things we may be given, but it is also an invitation to put those things in their place for what they truly are - material things that cannot truly satisfy the longing soul.
This invitation is to no longer live by the world's standard.
It's an invitation to do life differently so you don't have to try to fit into a mold you were never made for.
It's an invitation to course correct - choosing to cease the striving + forsake the path that will continue leading you to burnout.
You can simply receive Jesus + His love for you again today. Right here. Right now. Because He is truly the only one who can fulfill + satisfy the longing of your heart!
So this is your friendly reminder that the world + its ways will never fulfill you. It will never satisfy your heart’s craving for pure, true, unconditional, and unfailing love.
Only Jesus can do that.
In Christ’s love,
~Sarah Murphy
PS: I hope this message encourages you no matter what your current season or relationship status is. I have been in all of those relationship categories (single, married, divorced, separated, in the messy middle of complicated marriage situations) at different points in my life. So, if you are struggling during this month know you are not alone because Jesus is always with you + loves you more than you could ever comprehend! 💖
PSS: If this message resonated with you I would love to hear from you. Just hit reply to this email and let me know how God spoke to your heart!