Many years ago, as a teen, I was in the grips of despair. Tortured by a darkness that came from trauma, I was overcome by suffering.
As I would sit in my room at night, a pain so great, that I have never felt again since, would come over me in a debilitating way.
Yes, life was complicated, and it oftentimes felt too hard. In fact, I didn’t always feel like I could keep going.
The lies of the enemy will destroy you if you let them.
And while the enemy certainly had a grip on me, it was also true that God was holding me even tighter with his love.
I know this now, looking back, but there were signs of it all those years ago.
The one I’ll share with you today will hopefully encourage you, whether you are suffering now, or praying for a prodigal, or loving someone who is suffering in ways you don’t fully understand.
You see, when I was about 3 years old, standing alongside a cornfield on the outskirts of my church, I learned the song “Jesus Loves Me”, during Vacation Bible School.
It was a simple song to learn, and a simple act by the teacher to teach it. Though, it probably never occurred to her how God would have used that song so many years later.
In an instant, the words and melody, impressed upon the heart and mind of my 3 year old self. Words and a message within them, that would stick with me for life.
And wouldn’t you know, that in the deepest, darkest moments of despair, that song would play a role. Many years after I learned it, “Jesus Loves Me” would come into my mind, and roll right off of my tongue.
There in my room, or wherever I may have been, through tears and agony, I would sing that song to myself, as if a battle cry against the enemy, and against my suffering.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me – the Bible tells me so.
And don’t you know, that every time I sang that song, my soul would calm?
A certain peace would come over me. As if a baby in the midst of an outburst, who is picked up by her mother, and rocked to a calmed state. So too, did I become settled by a similar comfort.
God is good.
In those moments, I truly went from my breaking point to a manageable state, every time I sang that song.
Thinking about it now, I was singing exactly what my heart and mind needed to be reminded of – his love.
It’s a love so great, that it strengthens us in our weakness.
No matter what the hard circumstances are, or the trauma that we’ve suffered, or even the losses we’ve endured; it remains true that Jesus loves us.
It’s a love that actually loves us back together.
And friends, he doesn’t just love us at our best. He loves us at our worst too.
In fact, he loves us before we fully commit our lives to him, or before we have read the Bible cover to cover, or while we’re still stuck in sin, or when we just aren’t sure if he really loves us at all.
He loves us anyway.
He loves us, not because we deserve it, but because of who he is.
He loves us so much that he died for us. Really think about that one.
His love is so great, that’s it’s even greater than the very best love that we can give to those that we love the most.
His love heals us.
His love picks us up off the ground, and calms us into peace.
Zephaniah 3:17
(16)The Lord your God is with you, (17) the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
What a gift to be loved so much!
His love sings over us.
His love delights in us.
His love fights for us, even when we don’t have the strength to fight for ourselves.
When the enemy tried to take me down, God’s love interceded with a song, and his love will do the same for you!
His goodness and love cause him to go before us, preparing us for what’s to come. Long before we can see a way out, he is there guiding us, always by our side, especially in the midst of our greatest suffering.
His love changes everything, and there is no greater love.
Jesus loves me & he loves you too.
You are not alone.
This is such a foundational truth…and you express it beautifully here, friend! I’m basking in this today! Thank you!
Aw, thank you Stacey 💓💓💓 Blessings to you!
God is so good and He loves us anyway! Thank you for this. I need it daily!
I’m grateful that it encouraged you! Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment! 💓💓💓
Jen, I went through darkness in my teen years also and Jesus made Himself known to me before I could take my life. I love that you have this beautiful relationship with the LORD and He has brought you so far that He is now using you to minister to others. You are a beautiful light shining in the darkness … keep shining my friend. Praying for that one person who needs this message really bad to come across this post, in Jesus’ Name. Blessings, Donna 🩷
Donna, It hurts my heart to know that you suffered so much. I’m praising God that He intervened in your life. He’s using you too to shine a light. What a gift it is to know how far we’ve come out of darkness, thanks to His mercy and grace and redemption. Love to you, sweet sister friend 💕💕💕
This was beautiful. I needed to read these words today. And remember his love.
Thank you! I’m so glad it encouraged you! 💓💓💓
Truly his love changes every thing and there is no greater love. What a powerful article to point us once again to God’s unfailing love. I am reminded again today that Jesus loves me. Thanks for sharing your story.
He surely does, friend! Thanks for stopping by and for your comment 💕💕💕