Relentless Love | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Relentless Love

We're so underserving, yet God loves us anyway.

17
Relentless Love
Caroline Warner

I have to admit it’s been pretty hectic in my personal life these past few weeks. But really, as much as I hate to admit, months actually. There’s been a lot of anger, bitterness, guilt, shame, loneliness, any pessimistic adjective you can think of. But the worst feeling of them all was how distant I was feeling from God and His presence.

As a Christian, it’s worst thing imaginable. Feeling like you can’t grab onto God’s hand because you’ve done too much, walked too far away, sinned so much, or whatever happened. This has been weighing me down so much lately. College is a complete 180 for everyone. I told myself before classes started that I wouldn’t lose sight of my God. But I did. And it felt like I was so far away from Him and His love. This feeling made me sick to my stomach so often just thinking about how far away I had strayed from my Father. The only One who could fill any void I have and it seemed as though He was so far out of reach.

It wasn’t until this past Thursday that I realized I was doing everything wrong. It’s not that I couldn’t reach God, it’s that I wasn’t reaching God. The whole time I thought I walked too far away that He gave up on me or that I was too ashamed to come back to Him with hanging my head low. During Bailey’s message this week at FAM (s/o Bailey you da best), we read Romans 8. While going through his message, I looked over a page in my Bible and I realized I had highlighted verses Romans 8:38-39 awhile back. The verses read: “(38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).

I kid you not, I read that verse maybe 6 or 7 times in order for it to stay in my brain. I mean read the verse over for yourself. What do you notice?

This verse, I won’t even hesitate to admit, hit me really hard. I’m pretty sure I’ve made it very clear how distant I’d been feeling from my Father. But after reading this verse. It made me realize that I can’t outrun His love for me. Look at the list in the verse. There’s literally nothing that disqualifies you from God loving you so incredibly much.

We’re so undeserving of God’s love. But it’s through Jesus and cross, a death we most definitely deserved, that we receive grace and love and mercy daily. I’m not perfect. In fact, I’m broken and I'm always going to fall short. I’m always going to struggle, have fears, make mistakes, go through trials. But the upside to all of this? I have God on my side, and He loved, loves, and will continue to love me relentlessly. And in knowing that, I’m pretty darn confident that I can take on anything because at the end of it all, God is still there and He is still good and He still loves me. And for as long as I’m a daughter of the King, I will never stop pursuing Him and His kingdom and striving to be more like Jesus everyday.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

186049
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

12155
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

455903
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25361
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments