We Are More Than Safe in God’s HandsSample

God Has Given You All Things in Jesus

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” 

Romans 8:32 has to rank as one of the strongest verses in the Bible about God’s love for us—his relentless, tender, and life-giving love for us. Not only did the Father give us his Son, but with his Son, he will give us everything else we need. And he will give us all these things graciously. Not reluctantly

or begrudgingly, but graciously, freely, and joyfully. Such is the love of God for you. His own Son and everything else you need. Do you know in your deepest heart of God’s tender affection for you?

As a young pastor, I talked about and preached on God’s love, but deep down, I didn’t feel loved by God. I wouldn’t admit this to myself, this unbelief in God’s love—that would have been too painful to my spiritual pride. But it was so. When God, in his mercy, showed me that I didn’t feel loved by him, I was at least aware of the problem—always a vital first step to healing. So I began a journey to know God’s love—not a journey of the head, but a journey of the heart.

I prayed that God would show me his love and change my heart. These were not sweet, gentle prayers, but desperate, urgent prayers. This was vital. When I would read the Bible, I would look for passages on God’s love, kindness, patience, and forgiveness. God also used worship. As I sang to him, especially with God’s people, God transformed the way I saw him. Worship is powerful and soul-transforming.

Slowly, over years, not months, I began to feel more and more loved by God. I began to see God differently—more as he really is, as the tenderhearted, gracious, and merciful God he always was. The God who is easy to live with and who is for me.

I’m still on the journey, of course, but I feel loved by God now. And it has made all the difference.