We live in a world that produces heartbreak. Even people we love— wound us—and arguably, they are in a position to hurt us the most. Furthermore, those we love most will eventually leave us because—everyone dies. Yet, we risk love because our soul knows that life without it means nothing.
It should be NO SURPRISE that we long for love because…
We are created in GOD’s image and—He IS love.
When we are God’s child we learn to love like HE does.
The experience of real love comes at a great price and requires requires vulnerability; but—there is no greater experience in life.
We ALL have a choice about HOW we love.
When we “love” only those who “love” us back—we are limiting our love experience. (Matthew 5:46) Self-perpetuating love is nearly an oxymoron and the shallowest form of “love.” God intends for us to experience a love that will awaken us to awe and wonder.
When we plunge into loving—fearlessly, without expectation of reciprocation, by full direction of the Spirit of God—our experience with love broadens and deepens far beyond what we can imagine. We are surprised by love. When God’s love is supplying our deepest need for love, we have plenty leftover even for those who will hurt us. Through loving obedience to God’s Word—we are opening the doors to our heart to be constantly refilled with His love. Then, we are fearless to love our “enemies” because we are without NEED to be loved by them in return.
In addition to staying filled with God’s love; in order to minimize the pain of heartbreak, we need to train ourselves to let offenses go. IMMEDIATELY. Sometimes, over and over again. By dwelling on the offenses, we only multiply the pain. But by letting go and truly forgiving we are free to love.
If you want to learn about how to improve your love; measure it by love as defined in God’s Holy Word:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”
I Corinthians 13:4-8