Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. -John 15:9 (WEB)
Nothing changes and heals us more than knowing that we are loved, truly loved. To know that we matter, that we are valued and cared for, that we are seen, that someone is delighted that we are alive.
It isn’t enough to know that one does something good for us. It isn’t enough that another person sacrifices something for us and desires the best for us. We still need to know that we are loved, because when we are loved, we are not just a burden or an obligation to be fulfilled.
We are persons, human beings with souls. We need more than contracts and technicalities. We need more than existence. We need life, a life filled with love.
Jesus has given us such a love. Jesus said, “Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you.” Could there be anything greater than the Father’s love for the Son?
We may doubt Jesus’ love for us. We may say that Jesus died for us, but that is just because He wants to save us. But we could never doubt the Father’s love for Jesus. To know how much the Father has loved the Son is to know how much we are loved.
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"