True Love

Do we really know what a strong and true love feels like?
The world/humanity today sickens me to hear it's version of what a strong true love is!
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself shows us what true love is daily. He is love. Why do we look any further?

"The love which is strong as death is not only willing to save the beloved, it is willing to seem if necessary, pitiless, insensitive, unloving, if that is what will help the beloved to die... that is to be released from the bondage of self, which is death, and thus enter the gateway of life."
- Elisabeth Elliott

I think today we are so in love with ourselves and the lives that we have "made for ourselves" that we can't recognize what true love is anymore! I know in my life the Lord has used some pretty drastic measures to get my attention in attempts to bring me to the end of myself so that I can see my need for Him and His love. Why is it that we think that only good, happy, fun, easy, painfree and joyful things come from true love? Isn't it obvious that the Lord uses even the hard, difficult, sad, heartbreaking, troubles and trials to show us how much we desperately need His love?!

What would make you see your need for the Lord more? A big fat raise with the finest car as a gift, an enormous mansion, life long free gas, no more taxes, and never another difficult situation.....
Or would you know your need for Him more from losing your home, not having enough money month to month, not getting everything your heart desires, your plans not working out, losing the ones you love the most, and being bombarded by difficulty after difficulty.

The saying resounds in my head again. "We will never know Jesus is all we need until Jesus is all we've got!"

He is Love! And He will do whatever it takes; go to desperate lengths, take drastic measures in order for us to realize that all we need to live this life, all we need to make us happy, all we need to rely on for peace day to day is HIM, HIS LOVE, and His alone!

Ugh that's a hard lesson to learn! It has been for me and I'm only 26! Praise God He doesn't give up on us when the going gets tough and we get defiant!!! He is good, faithful, patient, slow to anger, understanding, compassionate, gentle, and loving! His love is the only strong and true love that we can depend on, no matter what fashion or form it comes in...

God is love!