Discovering the True Meaning of Love Through a Relationship with Jesus

Throughout your life, you believed that love should appear a specific way, influenced by the environment you were raised in. We each have our unique narratives, but I'm discovering that Jesus is the sole path to and for everything.

I woke up one morning and love was on my heart heavily. I went through most of the day with it on my thoughts. Not until I was in the kitchen cooking for my kids did I start talking to God about this feeling I'm having about love. Now, I'm not going to lie, I thought He was about to send me a husband or something. When I say the Holy Spirit didn't waste any time getting through to me because I burst out in tears.

"I'm grieving love because what I thought was love had died when I became new in Christ," is what God told me!

You've got to know that I cried even harder after that clarity. I want to share more and break it down for my beautiful readers about what I thought was love vs. what God showed me.

(My own understanding of Love)

• If someone mistreats you, it might be because that's their way of expressing love.

• Striving excessively in all aspects of my life to gain approval

• Trying to please someone to encourage them to stay

• Neglecting my own health to ensure the well-being of those around me

• Smiling as I place my worries in a box

• Avoiding confrontation by ignoring issues

• Offering my body to others!

• Remaining long after it was time to go.

The scripture God guided me to was incredibly timely, as from that day forward, my mindset began to change, ensuring that my previous experiences wouldn't make me resentful about love or cause me to abandon it.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 (NIV) (Jesus love)

• Love is patient—Jesus has shown great patience with me throughout this journey

• Love is kind—Jesus cares about every aspect of my being

• Love doesn't envy—Jesus is my friend, not my adversary

• Love is not proud or boastful—Jesus never looks down on me but rather lifts me up

• Love is not dishonest—Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

• Love is not self-seeking—Jesus looks out for me and desires my well-being

• Love is not easily angered—Jesus extends grace

• Love keeps no record of wrongs—Jesus sacrificed himself for my sins

• Love doesn't delight in evil but rejoices with the truth—Jesus empowered me over the enemy, not vice versa.

• Love protects, trusts, hopes, and always perseveres—Jesus shields me, has shown me I can trust him, and my hope is at its highest because of who he is.

• Love never fails—Jesus will never abandon or forsake me.

I also wanted to include another scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) - "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE." Clearly, love is of utmost importance, and when I was renewed in Christ Jesus, I began to grasp the reason for this! I also recognize that unlearning is more challenging than learning, but with Jesus, your mind is renewed in everyday life.

Even if God never verbally expressed "I love you," His actions resonate far more powerfully than any words could. He has demonstrated to me in countless ways that His love is the genuine path, for He embodies love. I'll never encounter another love like this! The beautiful part is that I get to share my life with my love "JESUS".