"And by the assay of this falling we shall have an high, marvellous knowing of love in God, without end. For strong and marvellous is that love which may not, nor will not, be broken for trespass."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 61)
It may be reasonable to believe God loves us when we are doing well and feel we are making good decisions. But when we are failing, struggling, making a mess of our life, it can be so difficult to believe God loves us. Yet it is right in the darkest night that the light of His love shines the brightest. When we are at our worst and feel we have nothing to offer God, have nothing in us that deserves His love, that is when His love is most powerful and meaningful. God loves us at our best and at our worst. But it is in the worst moments that we can have the deepest, strongest, most amazing experience of God's love because it is then that we can know with certainty that His love is unconditional. It is then that we can know that His love is not conditioned on our good behavior, strong faith, or success in life. If He loves us when we are down as low as can be, down in the gutter, with our life in ruins, then He will love us always, He will love us faithfully no matter what!
We can imagine a mother or father loving a child, even when the child has failed so much that all seems ruined. We can imagine the mother or father coming and hugging the child and giving comfort, acceptance and love. Wouldn't God, our Perfect Parent, do this and infinitely more for us? Wouldn't God's love for His children be just as strong and infinitely more dependable? This is a love we can trust to be there for us forever. In fact, God has already demonstrated the strength and faithfulness of His love for us. For if God would show love towards those who murdered His own beloved Son (which was surely the worst thing humanity could do), then certainly He will show love to us no matter what we possibly do. If He takes us at our worst, He takes us always. He has proven His love for us and He will keep proving it in our lives again and again. He gives us a high and marvelous knowing of His love, showing us that the bond of love between us is so strong that no sin, shame, struggle or failure can break that bond. What an amazing love this is, stronger than anything. What a strong and marvelous love, almost beyond our comprehension! It is an unbreakable, unstoppable love. It is an always and forever, dependable love. It is the love God has for you and for me!
"Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what."
1 Corinthians 13:7 (VOICE)
"I can always count on you - God, my dependable love."
Psalm 59:16 (MSG)
"But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display—the Anointed One died for us."
Romans 5:8 (VOICE)
A Prayer: I feel safe in Your love, because even at my worst, You take me, You accept me, You love me.