Do you love me?

Have you ever noticed people are always asking this question, “Do you love me?” You may not hear people rattling off the question every second. I’m not talking about verbally asking someone, but asking through actions.

Take these cases for instance: Ever bought a cute outfit to get a guy’s attention? Ever tried out for something you didn’t really like all that much but tried out because it was the cool thing to do at the time? Ever go further with a boyfriend or guy friend just to feel like you were loved and accepted? Ever join in gossip to feel like you were a part of the group? Then you’ve subconsciously asked these questions, “Do you love me?” or “Do I have your attention?” or “Do you accept me?”

People are born with the natural desire to be loved and to love. It’s really interesting to observe the lengths and risks humanity will take just to feel loved and accepted. We will go into debt to get the car or the clothes or the next cell phone. We will risk our hearts in relationships we know we should NOT be in. We will do pretty much anything to satisfy the void in our hearts for love. What concerns me is people will go to great lengths for a fix (I say this because I’m human, and I know what risks I will take to fill the emptiness in my being).

How long does the love last in the instances I mentioned above? Six months later, the perfect outfit to grab your crush’s attention is now in a Goodwill pile. One week later, the gossip you spilt has caused more strife and anger among your friends than acceptance. Two days later, your boyfriend who you thought was committed breaks up with you. You are left with a broken heart, and the void in your heart has become some sort of black hole, a considerably larger chasm than before.

Consider the cure: "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life” (John 3:16, MSG). You remember the emptiness in your heart begging to be filled with unchanging love and acceptance? God is the only one who can fill the black hole in your heart, sounds impossible, right? Nothing is impossible for the One who designed the Black Hole with his own hands and creativity.

John 3:16 is often over used, and so it can lose its meaning through all its repetition. Have you ever stopped to really think about it though? Have you ever thought about how much God loves you and the world?

Generations upon generations have passed through this space and time on earth, and God loves them all. If I think about it, I can really only love a few people because my capacity to know people and love them is limited as a human being; but God can love the all the earth, not just a few here or there.

If His capacity to love is both grand and mind-boggling, then imagine what God’s incredible love can do to the black holes in our souls? Your heart may be crying out, “Do you love me?” Your Heavenly Father’s saying, “I love you, my sweet child, with my entire being.”

Before I end this article, I wanted to share a poem by Jessica, in regards to God’s love for us. Sit back, relax, and soak up the words.

Love, Dad

You were formed
By My hands.
No one knows you
Better than I.

Every freckle, each scar.
The smallest speckle of
Blue in your eyes.
I made them all.

I Am beautiful,
So why would I make
You ugly, stupid, or anything less than perfect?
You are My image.

Consider the lilies of the field.
They are all alike,
But you are unique and
Special to Me.

Not one is like you,
You are who you are.
No evil can come from
My hands.

You are My flower,
My angel,
My princess,
My little girl.

Your smile brightens the
Sun in the morning.
Let it shine all the time
To others.

Let them know My love,
And all the while,
Know and believe that
Daddy loves you.

All my love,
Dad