March 12th 2024, 21:48, London
I’ve been thinking a lot about love. You know, the intensity of the emotion. How often do you think of the person you’re in love with (and no, I don’t mean Jesus)? I mean a human being. Be honest, nobody will ever know your answer. I have been reflecting on how in this season God gave me several promises and whilst I waited to see all of them manifest I realised that the one area He continued to speak to me about was one in particular: love.
Love is such a powerful and intense emotion. It is so fascinating, honestly. Why did Jesus willingly die on the cross? Love. His focus wasn’t on the fact that He would be glorified for eternity. Yes, that’s a bonus but my resolve is that His love for us was what motivated him and kept his eye on the prize.
Why would Jacob work seven extra years for Rachel? Love. I’m sure some may have some other comments but again I believe he looked beyond the pain and trickery he would need to endure in Laban’s house because he loved Rachel.
I once listened to an episode titled “When Cupid Becomes a Prying Journalist” by the Modern Love podcast. The narrator of this episode who was a war photographer spoke briefly about her job which as we would imagine was quite gruesome. As a war photographer even as she endured the most questionable conditions what kept her alive and hopeful was that same emotion: love. As she stayed the course of her job, she longed to be reunited with someone she loved and this desire was what kept her hope alive every single day.
What I’m getting at is this: never underestimate the power of love. More so, never underestimate the power of a love that’s been simmering slowly, building with anticipation and one which is desperately looking to express itself. It is a very powerful emotion.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NKJV
As I reflected on those examples it finally made sense why God has continuously played this card to keep me going. What card do you ask? The love card. At the time of writing I am very single yet I have received countless words, prophecies, dreams, and many more about my beloved, Mr Power Closet. Now for someone who likes to play the “I don’t want to let my guard down” card ever so often, the regularity at which God speaks to me about him is quite frankly, unnerving.
It was making me wonder something simple: Why do You share so much about him?
I’ve found that the Lord hasn’t kept my heart and hope alive in this waiting season by showing me flashy cars he will give me, or houses I will buy, or the crocodile Birkins – no, those will come. He hasn’t used material things to keep my heart alive. He has continuously used my love for Him and the simmering love for another.
This realisation made me appreciate the beauty of love and its intensity. I remember speaking to a good friend of mine and she uttered these words: “I can be having a bad day and his smell will do it for me.”
To some, that might sound cute, but when she said it I did a double-take. I know my friend and she never lets any man see the depths of her heart. Yet, in a few months, this man has swept her off her feet and she’s a completely different woman. Her story in itself is a case study.
Love is powerful. It makes sense why God is love and everything that He does starts and ends with that: love.
So what’s the point of today’s story? I want to encourage you to embrace love and all that comes with it. It’s a complex emotion and oftentimes we secretly build walls in our heart because we are terribly afraid of being disappointed by the very emotion we so desperately crave.
In one of my recent stories I ended by saying that to fall in love you have to take a leap of faith and I stand by that statement. But why would I even encourage you to do such a thing? Let’s go back to the very examples we started with: Jesus, what did He get? He will be reunited with His children for eternity. And Jacob? He had a long love with Rachel. It wasn’t perfect but their love birthed someone I’m sure you’re very familiar with: Joseph.
Love is intense, it’s unpredictable but regardless of my relationship status I’m a big believer that it will always be worth it especially when you do it with God. It may start off looking crazy, it may not even seem like your ideal love story, but I choose to believe that if you hold on long enough and keep trusting God you will get your reward for doing the very thing He exalts above all: daring to love passionately and patiently.
So how do we do this? Well, the first place to start would be to encounter love Himself i.e. God. I was studying a few days ago and learned that when we become Christian and take on a “new nature” one that is Spirit-led, this nature functions through love. I encountered this scripture which I found to be exceptionally powerful:
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Galatians 5:13 NIV
As you grow in God and continuously abide with Him, you will find that the love in your heart begins to grow. Don’t be alarmed! It’s a sign and proof that you’re maturing spiritually and becoming more like Him. Don’t hide it, don’t get annoyed for having it, don’t be afraid of it.
When he leads you to your person, express this very emotion as led by Him. He will teach you how to show it in a way that glorifies Him and in turn, causes you to fall even more in love (wild, I know). With friendships and loved ones, you will notice that the love will begin to show up as great compassion. All of this is good.
Love is powerful. It is beautiful! It is indeed a very intense emotion but it will always be worth it. We were conceived because of love. Our very Father died because of love. So if you’ve started feeling the depth of this emotion count yourself very blessed.
It is a blessing to know love and receive love.
All my love (lol),
Tumi
