Enduring Love, A Journal Entry

This morning I read Psalm 118:1

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever."

The underlined words stuck out to me.

The basic definitions are:

steadfast- unwavering, resolutely firm

endures- suffer patiently, remain, last

forever- for all future time; for always

These words emphasize the reality of God's love. When I usually read this verse I feel unwavering joy and peace.

This time, the Lord showed me something different.

The definition that hit me the hardest was the one for 'endure'.

God's love is not one merely based on sweet moments with his faithful children, though that is part of it. Rather it is based on His perfect and unchanging character.

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul describes love as patient or long-suffering.

The love of God is unwavering because He is willing to suffer. God's love is patient and thus it endures. However, what would God have to endure? His love has endured me. That is why the definition for "endure" hit me so hard. He has endured the pain of rejection, selfishness, pride, apathy, fear, worry, doubt: sin towards Him and others.

This only scratches the surface.

"Shot through the heart and I'm to blame, I give love a bad name"

Now I don't want you to think that God is some victim. He is anything but! Just look at Job 38 & 39.

However, as I looked at myself before my Holy Perfect God I am reminded once again that I am nothing.

One of the current trends I see all over is self-affirmation.

Speaking things aloud to yourself like...

"You are beautiful!"

"You are strong!"

"You are creative!"

"You are confident!".....and on and on they go.

No matter how many times I look myself in the mirror and repeat mantras of self-identification, by myself these will never be true.

I just said that this verse reminds me that I am nothing, yes that is true, I am nothing, but He is EVERYTHING.

Because His love for me is steadfast and endures forever I don't need shallow mantras, I know who I am: I am His.

That being said I am called to love in the same way He does. I will never be perfect. However, my love can be patient, enduring suffering as I trust in Him who endured it all for me.

It is right that the Psalmist calls for people to give thanks to the LORD for His character. How could we respond any other way?

"Oh give thanks to the LORD. for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever"