Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7
Maybe Valentines Day was Hard for You. Valentines Day, a great day for some, a hard lonely day for some, and a painful reminder for some. Maybe you had a hard time seeing all the social media posts – the ones of perfect people on their perfect dates. Or maybe it was harder for you to see all the sweet posts by the couples who have been married forever – showing pictures of themselves on their wedding day, just babies, but somehow surviving years of life together. Now declaring their timeless commitment and love to each other.
Maybe your heart is broken where you are – in your broken marriage and your broken life. Maybe it didn’t even bother you as much – until you saw all the posts and you were unexpectedly reminded of what once was but is not anymore. Or maybe you see what never was that should have been. Maybe you don’t know what to do or say anymore, because you have no hope left, and you have an invisible heaviness that just sits on your heart.
What doesn’t show in those pictures are all the things that make a life together. It doesn’t show all the years of births, deaths, barely getting by, affairs, lies, the chasms, betrayal, disrespect, all the ugly parts of life. Not everyone has all of this, but everyone has some of this. We always feel our broken places much more on days when everyone is highlighting their seemingly unbroken places. The truth is that we all live broken lives – just some more evident than others.
Maybe you spent this day grieving your lost life and wondering where you went wrong. What happened? What now when you can’t find the door in this pitch dark room? No way out. No light. Just darkness. All alone.
You are not alone because God is there with you. While we may feel like love has left our lives, His love for us is steadfast and eternal. He sees and He knows and He feels. He never leaves us, even when we feel completely alone and especially when things seem the most hopeless. He feels the pain of our brokeness – our broken hearts and broken lives. He has exactly what we need that nothing else can compare.
Love is many things, but human love is broken love. It always breaks at some point – because we are human. God’s love for us never breaks. It is always there and fills in the cracks of our broken human love and hearts.
There are other women who are feeling the same way you are, who may be going through the same things. They want and need to know they are not alone either. They need someone to walk with them just like you. At North Side, our Women’s Ministry Team is committed to the women of our church and community, not only to encourage discipleship and spiritual growth but to walk beside you in hard times and find resources that can help in any situation. We don’t want any woman to be alone. Please contact us if you need someone to talk to or have other needs.
Love is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. It brings beauty and meaning to our lives and is doubled when reciprocated and shared. However imperfect and human we are, God’s love for us is always perfect.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Lara Cook
