Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you’ll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today’s episode, The Steadfast Love of God, focuses on how unwavering His love is, especially when we can’t see what is ahead.

Show Notes: The Steadfast Love of God

God’s love never gives up, never slows down, and never backs away. No matter what I do. No matter what you do. His love is who He is so even if we run as far as humanly possible from God, He still loves. And this resonates in my heart deeply during the Easter season.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3: `6 NKJV

God loved the world. That encompasses everyone. Not a single individual is exempt from the great love of the Father. We must, however, believe. An act of faith. To not perish; to share forever in eternal life, we step out in faith and believe His word in our hearts and confess this with our mouths. And once we do, we are His.

I love the words of Paul in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NKJV

I am a fairly nice person (now close friends, don’t laugh) I really am. But start talking ugly about my children or grandchildren, and I’ll get riled. Angry. Try to hurt them and I can become a Mama bear in a hurry. If you have loved ones, you understand exactly what I mean.

God loves us a million times more than I love my family. Cares more. And has a plan and purpose for each of us. I still can’t fathom that God has counted the number of hairs on my head. (Luke 12:7)

Jeff Walling says: “Truly dependable love is a rare commodity, and no one offers it like the Lord. He never, ever gives up on us. His secure and abiding love gives the believer a solid platform from which to function, an unshakeable truth on which to stand. ‘My God cares for me. My God is committed to me. My God will never stop loving me.’ With that verity written on our hearts, we can step out in faith to dance through circumstances that appear as impassible as the Grand Canyon.”

We learn to dance this way by storing up God’s word in our hearts. The ‘impassible’ times might not find us with a Bible in our hand but we can still remember the words in our hearts. The Holy Spirit will help us recall the goodness of God when we ask. Whether I’m in a hospital room, praying for a prodigal, struggling with anxiety, or just feeling alone, the love of God never leaves me. And never leaves you.

St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

Wow. This quote always leaves me breathless. As I near one of those “big” birthdays that end in a zero, I’ve realized that I will never be perfect. No matter how much I want to be just like Jesus, and never say a wrong word or think a wrong thought or act in a wrong way, it’s never gonna be like I want it this side of heaven. And sometimes that makes me sad.

Until I remember that God loves me anyway. He wants me to be obedient and live in excellence but he also understands that I came from dust. And dust is, well, kinda messy.

Like me.

The next time you’re struggling, take a moment to bask in God’s love. Read some scriptures, listen to music, and explore nature. Let His love, the steadfastness of it all, overwhelm you for the good.

Let’s pray: Father God, thank You for the everlasting love that You bestow on us daily. You gave Your only Son for us, and treat us as Your own. My heart sings its praises to You now and forever. When life is hard, show up in a mighty way in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

May the love of God abound in your heart, now and forevermore.