Even Now

God is love.  And because He is love everything He does is loving. Everything.  

Wait a minute. What about when terrible things happen?  

Let’s go to the garden of Gethsemane for the answer, shortly before Jesus was arrested.  



Remember His prayer:  “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42)

Jesus faced something more difficult, more horrific, than anything we are likely to face. Was God loving in that moment?

Yes. And that’s why Jesus could follow His Father to the cross. His sacrifice was motivated by perfect love. Love that was willing to do whatever it took to give us a way to be freed from the punishment for our own sin.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  1 John 4:9



As if that wasn’t enough, keep reading in the Luke account:

Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. (Luke 22:43)

In God’s perfect love, He allows things that are difficult, but He always gives us all that we need to walk through them.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

When things get tough, remember that God is love. Even now.

Keep Seeking the Kingdom!

   Heather Penner
   Youth Ministries Director