That certainly wasn’t a term I thought of when I used to consider how Jesus viewed me. I was letting my circumstances provide other words like rejected, unloved, and forgotten just to name a few. I didn’t think God cared for me I thought He enjoyed seeing me suffer. I mean I was in immense physical pain for months with little to no relief so to me it appeared God wasn’t quite so loving and certainly wasn’t thinking of me as beloved.
Even the word beloved never crossed my mind until many years later when someone who was encouraging me said I was beloved to God. I had to think about that for a moment because although I’ve come a long way in my relationship with the Lord and His love for me it still seemed more mechanical in my mind. More like He was obliged to love me as a regretful chore versus a desired choice.What changed my mind? I had to renew my mind in what the Word of God says about His love for me. Here’s a short list:
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8, But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:16, So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Jeremiah 31:3, The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Zephaniah 3:17 , The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Ephesians 3:17-19, So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
1 John 4:10, In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Psalm 86:15, But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Ephesians 2:4-5, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
These scriptures show not only how beloved I am but apply to you as well. We are dear to God’s heart and very loved by Him. Therefore we can live our lives as those beloved by God.
BY: Rhonie McBerry
Rhonie is a licensed radiation therapist providing care to those battling cancer. She learned to embrace a new normal after being diagnosed with Crohn’s. disease and uses the power of words to encourage others to see past their darkest day to a brighter horizon.
She is the author of Embracing a New Normal, God Has Drawn The Blueprints Vol I & II, Words That Surround Your Soul devotionals.
Yes, we can experience some challenging times in life and feel that God doesn’t care… But He does. Even through our challenges, He’s there. We may feel that He’s not but He is. Life can be hard and it is vital that we put our trust in God. The Word says, “And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 KJV). Sometimes, it’s hard to get this when reality kicks in at full force but yet we will stand on FAITH.
As always, you provide a solid message that encourages others and you ALWAYS keep it 💯!
Blessings…
Amen! Thank you for being part of the village
I needed this today
Blessings to you!