Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2) 

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2) 

My life shifted recently through a series of phone calls. The first call came from the executive who hired me to support him – telling me he was stepping down. The second call advised me that my job was being abolished and that I’d soon move to a new and utterly unknown role. The third call was made by me to an organization I’d applied to 7 months ago. Without ever seeing anyone, my world keeps pivoting through the tether of cellular connections. 

It wasn’t until the third orchestration that these changes started guiding me in a positive direction. This call gave me hope, and hope is the most transformative of all forces in the universe. 

The day I began searching for a new job – more than half a year ago – a position opened at an organization close to my home. It seemed to be a match made in heaven. Roles like mine are not easy to find, yet this one was nearby and would allow me to work in a field where I could live out my mission to help others. I applied the same day and began praying. I prayed before submitting my application. I prayed for the person I would be working for – by name. I prayed on my hands and knees before God, with tears of supplication, asking my heavenly Father to open the door – if He desired to do so.  

No matter how badly I yearn for something, I always pray that God will make the way evident to me. My prayers are always the same when I am seeking God’s purpose in my life. If it’s not Your Will, Lord, I pray, shut the door. If it is, open the door and allow me to enter. I need Your wisdom, Jesus. Show me Your plan. 

In this instance, my prayers came fast and furious – with many prayerful petitions coming while I was fully prostrate before my Creator. I would always rise from these sessions feeling assured of God’s provision. If this role was what He had in mind for me, my heavenly Father would bring it to fruition. I believe that wholeheartedly.

Exactly one month after my initial application, it looked as if my prayers might be answered, as my application was moved forward for “further consideration.” Two weeks later, I called to check on my status and was told the same. Two months after that, with no further word from anyone, I gave up. Clearly, this position was not God’s desire for me. 

During that interval, I received a call to interview for the role I ended up accepting – the position that is now being eliminated. From day one with my current employer, I questioned if I’d made the correct choice and if I was where I was supposed to be. Nothing seemed to go well, and there were moments when I felt I had made the wrong decision in accepting the job.

After learning that my executive was resigning, I sprung into action and called the organization I’d applied to on day one of my former job search. Surely, the position would no longer be available. No job can remain open for half a year without being filled. Still, I had to try. Although the switchboard operator tried several HR extensions, no one answered my call.

The day I was notified of my impending job cancellation, I phoned again. This time, someone answered. 

“You called at the perfect time!” came a cheery voice at the end of the line. “The job was on hold, but it was just reactivated this week. Your timing is perfect!”

Not my timing, I thought. God’s timing is always perfect! 

“From your lips to God’s ears,” I responded.

“Are you a Christian?” asked the kind voice, whose name I learned was Lucy. Before I could even answer, Lucy supplied, “I am a Christian, and I wanted to tell you to pray.”

Not only did I confirm my faith to Lucy, I told her the background of my application, being hired elsewhere, and why I was calling about the position again. I assured her that getting this job would be a profound testimony of God’s provision. She said my story gave her chills. Lucy explained that the organization had implemented a new application system. She then advised me to apply again. 

“If you don’t hear anything back in two weeks,” offered Lucy, “I’m going to give you a number to call to check on your application.” Lucy then provided me with the phone extension to connect to the executive director of Human Resources. I called the director as soon as I hung up – inquiring if I should, in fact, reapply.

“The position was on hold and is now open again,” the voice confirmed. “We have a new system, so you should reapply. If you tell me your name, I will look for your application.” I not only supplied my name – I reapplied that same afternoon. 

The next day, I called Lucy again, asking her how to submit my cover letter, which the system would not allow. After agreeing that she had similar issues when applying herself, Lucy provided me with the direct email address of both the hiring manager and the HR director that I had spoken to the day before.

“Copy Ms. D,” Lucy coached, “since you spoke to her yesterday. Then send your letter straight to both of them. And pray.”

Heartened by this additional assistance, I was encouraged even more by Lucy’s subsequent proclamation: “I had a feeling when we spoke yesterday that you are the one for this role.”

Her words gave me great hope. We ended our call with Lucy asking me to keep her informed about whatever happened. I promised that I would and thanked her profusely for serving God in her important position.

After hanging up, I couldn’t help but raise my hands to heaven. All I could say was, “Hallelujah!” and “Thank you, Jesus!” 

More profound than everything that transpired was the sense of peace and joy that flowed through me after this series of phone calls.

No matter what happens, I am assured that God is in control of my life – a message I continue to share with my friends and family. There is no better way of finding hope than by surrendering to the will of our Creator – and I fully submit to Him.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

God often sends me messages of hope in the lyrics of songs that I hear in my sleep. I wake up with the words running through my head, and the messages stay with me all day long. 

While I’ve always been able to recognize the songs when I wake, I couldn’t do so on a recent occasion. The lyrics were incredibly powerful, but I couldn’t place them. 

I smiled, nevertheless, even before turning on the light, as the message was profound. Victory is coming. God is moving! Even though I’m not at the finish line yet, I can still claim the assurance of my triumph in Christ. Something is right on the horizon, and it’s a powerful gift from God. I can feel it. I need to believe it. 

A few weeks ago, the executive that I support told me he was stepping down. The next day he was gone, without a backward glance. A week later, I was advised that my position was being abolished, and I would be moved to a different role – one that would task me with responsibilities entirely out of my field of expertise. Needless to say, I was worried – and then I gave my worries to God. 

Ironic, I thought, that I would leave a job out of uncertainty for my future only to move to a job that has led to an uncertain future. 

And so, my career search continues. I am blessed to still be employed. I could have easily been let go – and yet, mercifully, I remain. While my new role is being defined, I can sometimes feel the apprehension building inside me. And then I give my concerns to God. Over and over, again, the loop continues. I worry. God reminds me that He is in control, and then I consciously give my burdens to Him. 

That’s when I woke with the song lyrics in my head. I could hear the tune and the chorus but couldn’t recognize the song. I knew it was a male singer and had a feeling it must be Danny Gokey – one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists. I wrote down what I remembered hearing while the words were still vivid in my mind.

I smiled to myself at the memory and knew I needed to acknowledge the message that God was giving me, deep in my soul. Victory is coming. God has prepared a profound blessing for me. I may not have acquired it yet, but I still needed to credit Him for the impending triumph. 

After performing a quick search of Danny Gokey songs, I found the one whose message I’d subliminally secured – “Haven’t seen it yet.” The title, the lyrics, and, more importantly, the message is irrefutable. We don’t know what the future holds for each of us, but we must trust that God knows and has our best interests at heart. The journey to reach His plan may be difficult, and yet He asks us to trust Him. I do. I know God holds my tomorrow in the palm of His hand, and He will reveal it when the time is right. 

For now, I will rest in the knowledge that “good things are coming even when I can’t see.” I believe that with all my heart and soul. 

I fully entrust my life to God. I may not know what will happen tomorrow, but whatever occurs in this life or the next, my Creator has already proclaimed my victory!

“Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Serving others is the most extraordinary form of compassion Christians can demonstrate to a hurting world. Offering one’s time, a listening ear, and a hand of help can do more to exemplify the love of Christ than anything else one could ever do or say. 

A month ago, I helped one of my employer’s community advisory board members achieve the confidence he needed to connect to a videoconferencing platform he’d never used before. It was his first time using this particular application, and he was nervous. After guiding him through the connection process, I conducted a practice session with him and talked him through his challenges until he felt good about the service. 

A week later, I called the gentleman, Mr. N., back – just before the virtual board meeting was to take place. I wanted to make sure he was confident in his virtual connection before the actual session occurred. 

After answering the phone, Mr. N. told me he had puzzled over my kindness the week prior. “You took time out of your busy schedule to help me, even though you are new to your job,“ he said. “What made you do so?”

“I’m a servant leader,” I replied. “I believe in leading with my faith. It forms the basis for everything I do.”

After thanking me, Mr. N told me that he was good friends with the original author of the authoritative book on servant leadership, Ken Blanchard. “If you haven’t already read his book, I’ll send it to you.” 

After thanking my benefactor for his kindness, I provided my work address and told him I would cherish such a gift. 

Flash forward to a few weeks later. I was working remotely, preparing for an important day with virtual client visits and the head of our organization, when my cell phone rang. It was my current boss calling to inform me that he was stepping down from the company.

The news came as a dramatic blow. I had resigned from my former employer in large part due to the kindness of this man and my belief in the security of this company. Only six weeks into my new role, I wondered if I would still have a job the next day. The fact was, I had been hired to assist a man who was no longer going to work for the company. Only God knew what was in store for my future. 

And so I began praying. I needed the help of my Creator, yet again. “God loves to keep me humble and reliant on Him,” I told my brother. 

Arriving at work the following day, I found a padded envelope on my desk with a San Diego return address. Being new to the company, I couldn’t imagine who could be sending me something from California. 

Upon opening the envelope, I could only smile when I found not one but two Ken Blanchard books – a gift orchestrated by Mr. N. and sent to me, right when I needed it, from the author himself. The book on top was “Lead Like Jesus” – a message straight from God, I thought. Instead of stressing over my future, I vowed, right then and there, to continue to serve as Christ would – with love – whenever and wherever He needs me to. 

Ken defines this thought process with the following statement: “Leading like Jesus is love-based leadership. In fact, God intends the primary outcome of our leadership and influence to be showing people Jesus’ love. Leading like Jesus is essentially a matter of the heart. It is also the highest thought of the head, it is the principal work of the hands, and it is both expressed through and replenished by the habits.”

In addition to a hand-written note by the author, Mr. Blanchard inscribed his book with the following notation: “Keep serving! Leadership is not about you but the people you are serving.”

Well said, Mr. Blanchard! And so I will!

God’s promises are true, and His messages are always right on time. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. No matter what my day job may be, I will keep writing, encouraging, and leading like Jesus. How could I ever do otherwise? 

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Two days ago, I sent the above Bible verse to all my friends, assuring everyone that I was thinking of and praying for them. More than that, I wanted to remind them that it was Good Friday, a day when Christ provided a preeminent example of love to all humankind. 

In the finiteness of our lives, it’s easy to forget how immense God’s love truly is. The Author of all of creation took on the form of humanity – thereby subjecting Himself to rejection, scorn, hunger, thirst, ridicule, humiliation, verbal abuse, physical torture, and – ultimately – death. He did so out of love for you, me, and everyone that ever has and ever will exist. Think about that for a minute: we weren’t even born when Christ laid down His life to pay the penalty for sins we weren’t alive to commit yet. Such love is at once both immeasurable and limitless.  

In 1907, Frederick M. Lehman attempted to describe this emotion in his hymn, “The Love of God.” Lehman felt compelled to pen his words after the Holy Spirit moved him to do so. He had recently suffered a massive reversal of fortune which forced him to find work in the shipping industry, packing oranges and lemons into crates. Undeterred by his circumstance change, Frederick easily wrote the first two stanzas of his song but struggled with the third. 

Remembering a card he had been given, Lehman retrieved it to find a poem that he deemed perfect for his hymn. The words had been found written on the wall of a room in an insane asylum two hundred years earlier. The sentiments were so beautiful that the attendants captured them before the room’s walls were repainted. 

Historians later learned that the above stanza came from an English translation of a poem written in 1050 by the Jewish Rabbi, Meir Ben Issac Nehoria. How the unfortunate asylum patient had ever heard these words, let alone remembered them, remains a mystery. The fact that they later made their way to Frederick on a card to be preserved, recalled, and used in perfect meter with his developing hymn is nothing short of the grace of God. 

Just as Lehman found these exquisite sentiments at precisely the time he needed them, so the love of God is always ready and waiting for us to accept into our hearts when we require the same. God’s love is the most precious gift we will ever receive – offered freely, willingly, and without cost. All we have to do is welcome it to know the unspeakable joy that can only come from the boundless love of our Savior. 

What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

While walking around the frozen Cherry Creek Reservoir last December, I spotted something this Georgia girl never thought she’d see in frigid Colorado – sandcastles in the snow. Surrounded by the vast openness of the frozen tundra, these pint-sized constructs might have been easily overlooked. Yet to me, their diminutive structure stood as more than just an anomaly – their creation spoke of the promise of things to come. 

There’s much to be said about normalcy in life. Our routines give us confidence, and venturing into the unknown can be quite daunting. I must admit to feeling more than a little lost in my new workplace lately. As the newest staff member in a 60,000 person company, I’ve been grappling with my insignificance these past few weeks. I told a former co-worker that I feel like a tiny minnow in a school of sharks right now. While I assured her that I would swim out and find my place in the ocean, I know it will take considerable time and massive effort to do so. 

I can’t help but think about how the Israelites let their fear overpower them and prevent them from entering the Promised Land. In the Old Testament story, God told Moses to send twelve spies into the land in Canaan to provide a report of the riches the Lord had in store for the people of Israel. Rather than trusting in the Lord’s strength, ten of the spies came back fearful of the size of the people and fortresses they’d seen.

Of the twelve men sent, only Caleb and Joshua remembered God’s assurance of protection and did their best to instill confidence in their fellow Israelites. 

“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:7-9)

Rather than trust the words of these Godly men – and more importantly – their Creator – the Israelites became fearful and seemingly forgot all the miracles the Lord had demonstrated to them as He led them out of Egyptian captivity. Their fear and mistrust not only caused them to grumble against God, but mob-rule nearly caused them to sin further by stoning Joshua and Caleb for their testimonies. Were it not for Moses’s prayerful petitions on behalf of the Israelites, God would have struck them all dead for their wicked behavior and their doubt in His promises. 

Proverbs 30:5 tells us that “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” Just because we can’t see Him doesn’t mean that God isn’t with us and acting on our behalf. Quite the contrary. He is always doing so. 

While each of us will face situations where fear of the future may threaten to overwhelm us, we have only to remember that God has promised that there is a Promised Land ahead for all who believe in Him. We have only to keep our eyes on Christ and remember that He will see us through. Just as sandcastles in the snow remind us that warmer days are just ahead, God’s Word assures us that He has provided for our futures.  

My mind may have a hard time imagining all that is in store for me, but that doesn’t diminish its reality or greatness. Rather than focusing on today, I choose to look to tomorrow as I trust in God’s promises and provision. 

Look to Christ, beloved, and do the same.

No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:12)

A little over a week ago, I bid goodbye to my former work family. And by family, I mean those that I not only worked with but those I’ve grown to love, value, and cherish over the past four years. I didn’t just associate with my peers; I cared about their lives, prayed over their problems, and worked hard to show God’s light of love at every turn. 

These were people that I spent years encouraging, and it was important to me to not only say farewell but also to remind them, one last time, of their importance, in one final message of love.  

“You may not hear that you are appreciated enough,” I wrote, “but I’m here to tell you that it’s true. You are the glue that holds everything together. You are the heart and soul of this company and the undergirding that keeps everything and everyone else fortified. Never underestimate [your value] and never doubt how important you are.” 

The responses I received were precious to me. “You have made an impact that will be impossible to fill,” one of my team members wrote. “You have blessed us with your grace and kindness and are the literal heart of [our department].”

“You will be missed by everyone in this department,” wrote another, “perhaps more than you realize. Everyone who has worked with you here is better for having met you!” 

More than just messages of being missed, the most significant responses I received were those that alluded to the light of Christ that I worked so hard to project. 

• “You have been a shining, positive light [in our department]. We were blessed to have you.” 
• “You are always a source of sunshine!”
• “You have always been a beam of sunshine, and I was always in a better frame of mind after speaking with you.” 
• “You are always a very bright ray of sunshine in what can some days be a dreary and stressful workplace.” 

While I strive to perform above and beyond my work expectations, my primary purpose – in and out of the workplace – is to show love. Doing so hasn’t always been easy – especially when I am tired, overloaded, or rejected by others. But as a Christian, it’s my mission to emody God’s love, wherever I am, to whomever I meet.

Believers are called to be God’s hands and feet. We are the personification of our heavenly Father that the often harsh and sometimes cruel world needs to see. It’s not enough just to be loved by God and to love Him in return. We need to demonstrate God’s unquenchable love to everyone we meet – even and maybe especially in our places of employment. 

Many people we work with will never step foot inside a church building, but they can still know God by watching us. Do we offer generic greetings to people we pass in our places of employment, or do we take the time to show that we genuinely care by listening, engaging, and demonstrating concern for others? 

Are we afraid to say, “God bless you” or “I’ll pray for you” when we hear of familial stressors or the aching bodies and overworked minds of our team members?

Has political correctness become the new standard rather than honest compassion for the challenges faced by those we strive alongside each day? 

Have we forgotten to care about one another in today’s world? I pray not. 

Each of us has the same opportunities every day to demonstrate the light of Christ by how we act, respond, and care for one another. We must – each of us – make a daily, conscious choice to make a difference. We can either shut down or show up, shrink back or shine forth. I choose to do the latter – every single time. 

“Thank you so much for your kindness, encouragement, and positive nature,” one of my former teammates wrote to me, “and thank you for being a vessel that God uses every day to touch people.” 

Be the vessel. Be the lampstand. Be the light. Don’t be afraid to shine forth, beloved. Love God and love people. 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

For the past six months, I’ve been praying for God to guide my footsteps and show me what to do. My work stress had become so great that tears would spring to my eyes whenever I was asked about it. I was working 10, 12, even 14 hour days at one point, and work was always on my mind. When my supervisor told me to take my phone with me on a long, overdue vacation, I knew it was too much. I began applying for new jobs as soon as I returned from my trip. 

After submitting my first application, I fell prostrate before my Heavenly Father, begging Him to help me. Show me Your will, Lord, I prayed. If it is Your desire, open the door for me. Please open the door. 

Sensing my distress, my mother called the Billy Graham Evangelism Association Prayer Line on my behalf and asked for prayer. In response, the counselor prayed Psalm 86 with her. When she later told me of her call, I looked the scripture up, and the words spoke powerfully to my heart. 

“Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to You; save your servant who trusts in You. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in You…Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to You, because you answer me.” (v. 1-4,6-7)

With each application I submitted, I prayed that God would guide me. More than anything, I wanted to follow His plan for my life, which meant I needed to surrender. As much as I felt I needed to move on, a part of me struggled with the thought that maybe He wanted me to stay. With each prayerful petition, I ended by submitting myself to my Creator’s control.

Your will be done, Lord, I prayed. Open the door if it’s what You want for me and close it if it’s not. 

Surrender is never easy. A friend of mine recently asked me what I meant when I told her that she needed to do the same.

“To surrender, you need to accept whatever outcome God brings,” I explained. “You need to prepare your heart to be content with whatever happens. If He wants you to stay, you need to accept that. If He wants you to move ahead, He will open the door for you.” 

It’s not easy to find happiness in all circumstances, but I found my peace after much prayer. I knew God had brought me to my current work environment and that He used my positivity to encourage others. I accepted that He might need me to remain where I was, so I let go of my fervency and settled into what I perceived to be His will. 

That’s when I saw the job listing. It was posted on a Sunday night – something I’d never seen before. Who posts jobs on a Sunday? I’ll apply tomorrow. 

But something inside me told me not to delay. I pulled out my computer and spent the next several hours researching, rewriting my cover letter, and applying for the job. 

Monday morning, I had an email from the VP of HR asking me for an interview. I could hardly believe such a thing could happen so quickly. On the first day? Who contacts candidates on the first day after posting a job? Don’t they want to wait until more resumes are received before setting up interviews? It seemed surreal to hear back so quickly when I’d been waiting months for other organizations’ responses. 

Nevertheless, I responded quickly and had my first interview a few days later. 

At the end of our discussion, I was told by the recruiter that he was moving me forward to meet with the hiring manager. Again, I was astounded. This doesn’t happen, I thought. But it did. Before long, I was scheduled for my second interview. 

Your words, my lips, Lord, I prayed. I had failed at another interview that took place with a different company in the interim, and I didn’t have a lot of confidence going into this one. Still, I prayed: Your words, my lips, Lord. If this is what you want me to do, you need to give me Your words. You are in control.

At the start of our discussion, the hiring manager allowed me to talk about whatever I wanted to with him – my hobbies, family, interests – whatever I felt like discussing was fair game. I started to talk about my writing and then stopped. It was as if God halted my words and redirected my thoughts. 

“Let me tell you who I am,” I began. I then proceeded to explain that I am an encourager – a topic I would typically never discuss. This was a job interview. I was supposed to talk about my work, not my personality. 

When I was done speaking, my interviewer told me that I had provided the best response he had ever received in any interview he’d ever conducted. Thank you, Jesus! I thought. Those were Your words, not mine. 

After nearly an hour into what was only supposed to be a half-hour interview, the hiring manager told me he didn’t want to put me on the spot, but he wanted to move me forward to meet the two top people I would be working with, in addition to him. And so he did. 

A week and a third interview later, I was offered the position – one which I never thought I’d get, for more pay than I anticipated, in a field that offered more stability than my current role. Needless to say, I accepted.

“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.” (Psalm 86: 12-13)

We don’t often think of surrendering to win, but that’s what God longs for all of us to do. Jesus gave us the ultimate example of submission when He prayed to His heavenly Father before being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me,” He prayed, “yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) 

If Jesus could willingly take on my guilt and yours by suffering a horrific death on a cross, how much more should I relinquish my desires to Him? My acquiescence is nothing compared to His. 

And so I am now blessed with yet another profound testimony. I know that God opened this door for me. What He provided is exceptionally more than I ever could have anticipated. What I received is a miracle. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I know God is with me, and that’s all that matters. 

Believe in the impossible, beloved, and remember that it’s only in surrendering that we can win. 

From a young age, I idolized the concept of love. I wanted to be the princess being swept off her feet by Prince Charming. He would rescue me from the evil villain and carry me off to his castle to live happily ever after. The reality of my life is much different. 

As I write about in my testimonial blog, Flawless, I was always the outcast growing up – the nerdy, unattractive girl picked last, overlooked, and made fun of by everyone. I dreamed of being loved unconditionally, but instead, married men who demoralized, demeaned, and defeated my belief in the emotion. 

“There are no such things as fairy tales,” my first husband told me as I begged for scraps of affection from him. I made a fool out of myself, hoping he’d grow to love me. As I learned all too well, you can’t change someone who doesn’t have the desire to do so. I grew to fear his violent anger and soon learned to keep my mouth shut.

My second husband linked affection to materialism. Love, in his world, was dispensed through the conditional distribution of objects like food, clothing, and shelter – only given if my performance was up to par. In other words, as long as I kept a spotless house, disavowed friends and family, and worshipped at the feet of his domination, I would be “rewarded” with tokens of goodwill. If I didn’t, food would be removed and I would be locked out of the house.

Neither of these lifestyles exemplified the emotion I searched for. 

In contrast, the Bible uses the term agape to define the type of love we are to demonstrate for one another. GotQuestions.org defines agape in this way: 

“The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. Unlike our English word love, agape is not used in the New Testament to refer to romantic sexual love. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character. Agape love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13.”

As Christians, we are told to love one another – in fact, the word love is used 551 times in the New International Version of the Bible. A few examples of this usage are listed below: 

• “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13: 34-35)
• “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
• “…serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
• “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
• “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)
• “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4: 7-10)

In all of the above verses and throughout the Bible, one common theme stands apart – God tells us to demonstrate love just as He did for us. We are never promised that anyone other than our Creator will love us in return.

As counterintuitive as it seems, receiving love should never be our motivation for dispensing the same. We are only told to give agape love to one another. 1 John 4:11 encapsulates this concept by telling us, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

God demonstrated His unconditional love for us by providing His Son to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Whether we deserve, acknowledge, or appreciate it, Christ took our sins upon Himself so that we could spend all eternity in heaven with Him.

When the Pharisees asked Christ to define the greatest commandment, He didn’t hesitate: “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 29-31)

Our directive is simple: we are to love one another unconditionally. No matter how the world treats us, no matter how cruel or neglectful our circumstances are, no matter if or when we are ever to be loved in return, we are to love each other. That’s not always the easiest thing to do. In fact, it may be the most formidable command we are ever asked to follow. 

As Christians, we should exemplify Christ’s love in everything we do. Agape love should emanate from our pores as we enter the workplace. It should fill our speech as we talk to one another. It should be evident in our actions as we move throughout our days. And it should astound others when they treat us poorly. If anyone is ever asked to define us, their most significant descriptor should be that we embody love. 

On Valentine’s Day and beyond, our life’s ambition should be to purposely, adamantly, affectionately love one another. In a world filled with anger, mistrust, and betrayal, we will only make a difference by manifesting Christ’s love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:11) Go, and do likewise.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

After days of rain, the skies cleared this afternoon, allowing the sun to shine down on my screen porch windows, highlighting their blemishes. Over the past few months, pollen and dirt blew through the screens, causing spots to form on the windows as the rains dried. When the days are cloudy, the marks are barely visible, but when the sun is shining, the murkiness is clearly evident. 

Our lives are often like these dirty window panes. We don’t always see the distortion, and seldom take the time to self-analyze and improve ourselves. It’s only when the Son shines through that we can more readily observe the ugliness that maligns our view and better recognize our need for our Savior’s cleansing touch.  

Recently, a dear friend of mine has been dealing with an oppressive work environment that has left her exhausted, defeated, and physically sick, at times. After months of encouraging her to seek employment elsewhere, she finally agreed, and together, we worked on updating her resume and cover letter. While she knew her situation was bad, it may have been easier to ignore the damage it was causing than to work to correct it.

Change is hard, no matter how desperately it’s needed. We will frequently do almost anything to avoid disrupting our sense of normalcy, no matter how abnormal and unhealthy such standards may have become.

Whether it’s bad habits, recurring sin, or even fear of change that holds us down, we must remember that our Savior longs to bless us and make us clean again. The devil will use every weapon in his arsenal to distort our view and prevent us from living the fulfilled existence that God longs to provide.

Too often, we allow ourselves to settle for the way of least resistance as we hold onto the muck that accumulates in our lives. Doing so keeps us from following the path our Savior wants us to travel with Him. 

I’ve often rationalized bad situations by believing that God chose them for me. The truth is, I paid the consequences of poor decisions by seeking my way rather than my Creator’s. How often do we listen to the voices in our heads rather than seeking guidance from above? Much too frequently, our choices make for a troubled journey rather than a smooth trip.

Life can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. By consistently seeking God’s plan and purpose, we can find His peace and clarity in even the most trying of circumstances.

The apostle Peter took a step of faith when he walked out of his fishing boat and onto the rough seas. As long as he kept his eyes on his Savior, he was able to walk on the water. It was only when he looked down at the waves and became fearful that he started to sink. 

It’s easy for us to look at that story and criticize Peter for his anxiety, but we, too, have a tendency to take our eyes off our Savior. We frequently let our fears restrain us from seeking our potential in Christ. Imagine how much more we could achieve if we would only trust His sustaining power to move us forward and into His plans. 

The apostle Paul reminds us, “For the spirit of God does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Oh, that we all could be empowered with God’s strength in such a way.

We don’t have to keep looking through dirty windows at a dismal future ahead. With Christ’s atoning blood, we have already been washed clean. It’s our own distorted vision that holds us back. Through God’s grace, we are fully equipped to move forward into a brighter tomorrow.