Sometimes the experience of loving and being loved generates warm feelings that bring joy, happiness, satisfaction, and encouragement. However, true love is not just a feeling, and Jesus tells us to love those who will not or cannot return our love. When we experience this side of love, it doesn’t feel rewarding. Instead, it may produce feelings of rejection, hurt, anger, or just hopelessness to overcome the negative. To be able to love and treat with respect those who do not love us back is something we cannot do on our own. This type of love is “God” love”! It requires that we turn toward Jesus with our heart to work out the emotions we are feeling from not being accepted and loved back. The process of letting go, will bring us to the place of forgiving those who reject and disrespect us. God will give us the spiritual power to love the unlovely unconditionally, as we step forward and grow. This doesn’t mean that we become doormats to be stomped-on or abused, nor does it mean we will have a great relationship with those who disrespect us; It takes two people that want to equally work on having a healthy relationship for it to happen. But we will love all people with a Christ like love, the kind that helps others without being seduced or manipulated by them. This pure, tough love speaks the truth and is kind, patient, and enduring. In life’s journey, enduring love is our goal, and as we continue to evolve spiritually into our Savior’s likeness, we will mature, little by little, with the ability to love as He does.

“Love endures long and is patient and kind”(1 Corinthians 13:4a).