For here is the way God loved the world—He gave His only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. John 3:16 TPT
“You are loved!” was a sign standing in a church bathroom, which our family just visited this past Sunday. Although no one was looking, I smiled and my heart said, “YES! YES! YES!” I took a photo of it, knowing that God was once again speaking what He had been saying to me over and over again throughout this past year.
This message “You are loved! By God!” was being fueled by a book in the Bible entitled “The Song of Songs,” which highlights God profound love for each and every one of us. As our Healing Room ministry team gathered twice monthly in our home for most of 2023, we journeyed through “The Song of Songs.” As we shared and were honest with one another, it became very clear that one of the biggest challenges each one of us faces in life is truly believing that we are loved by Him and living our lives from this reality.
The messiness of life – difficult experiences, painful traumas, horrendous wars, escalating evil, sicknesses and diseases, you name it – constantly challenge this reality that God really loves us, especially as we ponder the “why” of it all. Yet, amidst all the pains and troubles of this life, the truth remains, “You are loved! By God!”
Christmas is a day we celebrate the birth of Christ, the One Who has made a way for each one of us to experience God’s healing love. In the Passion Translation John 3:16-17 is stated like this, “For here is the way God loved the world—He gave His only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!”
May you embrace God’s gift of love you, His only Son Jesus Christ, letting Him love you this Christmas and throughout this new year. When you hear God say, “You are My beloved. You are the one I love,” as He did throughout the Song of Songs, His love song to you, let your heart respond to His love saying, “YES! I am loved by God, by the One Who created me. I am His beloved.”
Embracing God’s Christmas love,
Sue Burdullis
PS Schedule a prayer session, where you can embrace more deeply this reality of God’s healing love. Click here to schedule a prayer session.