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“What a [woman] desires is unfailing love …” Proverbs 19:22a (NIV)
I had everything I wanted yet felt empty and confused.
My life was full of relationships and accomplishments I’d worked hard to gain, but none could fill or fulfill me.
Frustrated by my aching emptiness, tears streamed down my face as I thought about the guy I dated through high school and college. Our future plans had crumbled under the pressure of me expecting him to be all I needed.
I had been crazy about him — a little too crazy.
Like the time a friend mentioned my ex-boyfriend was heading to our hometown for the weekend. We worked near each other, so Friday afternoon I parked by his office and waited for him to leave.
We both “happened” to be at the same fast food restaurant, at the same time and bumped into each other. After getting my order, I got in my car and followed behind him, hoping he’d see me, realize he couldn’t live without me and signal to pull over so we could talk.
Seriously, what was I thinking? As you can guess, he never stopped. I was hopeless and humiliated…
A few weeks later, I was taking a walk around my college campus. My eyes drifted to the buildings, dorms and other landmarks of memories. Suddenly my mind filled with a collage of faces, reminding me of my efforts to win the approval of advisors, friends and professors — hoping their affirmation could fill my emptiness.
Although I was graduating soon, had a few great job offers and achieved success in many ways, my heart still felt restless. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Why was all that I had never enough?
A thought rushed through my soul, stringing together two words I had never put next to each other. I sensed God answering me.
Renee, all you have ever wanted is unconditional love.
Unconditional love? I didn’t know there was such a thing. Then God whispered into my soul: You’ll never find the love you long for in anyone or anything but Me. I AM the unconditional love you’re looking for.
The thought of God loving me without any conditions was inconceivable, yet something deep in my soul told me it was true. I’d been looking for love that didn’t have to be earned. Love I didn’t have to fear losing.
Honestly, it was hard to see how God’s love could fill the emptiness in my heart. It took time, but I came to understand that God created me with that need for fulfillment so He could meet it.
Proverbs 19:22a, says, “What a person desires is unfailing love.”
The word “desire” comes from the Hebrew word ta’avah, which means: to greatly long for, deeply desire or crave. Interestingly, unfailing love is mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, and not once is it in reference to a person. It is only attributed to God.
Could it be that God gave us a desire for unfailing love, because He knew it could lead us back to Him?
If today’s post resonated with you, I hope you’ll ENTER TO WIN (This giveaway has ended, but I’d still love to hear from you!)
a copy of my new Confident Heart Devotional. I truly believe the stories and truths in it will change your life {like they have mine}!
Based on honest struggles we all have with comparison, self-doubt, fear of failing, and the life-changing lessons God’s taught me and ten other women, {whose stories are in the book} you will discover how to change the way you feel by changing the way you think – which will transform the way you live!
Expanding on what readers of my first book LOVED most: “When I say … God says …” statements, I’ve written 60 new devotions and new {WISGS} statements to equip you with a new a thought map and a promise – to live in every day!
ENTER TO WIN (This giveaway has ended, but I’d still love to hear from you!)
Share your thoughts in the comments below to WIN one of 5 copies of my A Confident Heart Devotional or a copy of The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition for you or a friend. Be sure to let us know which book you’d like to win!
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Thank you for this study– I am beginning to read the book and now I may have to pick up the devotional as well. Thank you for your words, Renee– you truly have been used by Christ, and I am grateful.
Thank you for your ministry! I love checking my inbox everyday and getting my daily devotions. I’d love to win a copy of A Confident Heart. I’m in a place right now that I could really use it!
Doubting myself has always been a strong hold that Satan uses to defeat me. I have your book and constantly go back to reread. Having your devotional book would be a great help to me in my daily walk with the Lord. It is my desire to become all the Lord would have me be and to helo others.
Your devotionals touch on what’s going on in my life daily. It’s like you have been walking with me and some of the experiences you touch on are “spot on” with what I need to hear/read. Thank you…
This picture on your FB post this morning really caught my attention. I’ve been working through the Made to Crave online Bible study and was especially touched and convicted during last night’s reading. This follows right along and was a great booster to what I read last night. I’ve fought through so many things and am so tired of it. It’s so nice to realize that I can make my life easier, just by keeping my focus on God and he will carry me through. He is all I need.
I would love to start another devotional when this one is complete, and I have been following your facebook posts for a few months. Every post is inspiring! Thank you!
I can totally relate to this post. It has taken a while for me to be completely fine with being single, especially after being cheated on in my last relationship over two years ago. This is an ongoing thing for me to realize that God’s love is the love we need. Thank you for this encouraging devotional. I would love copies of either books.
This books sounds amazing! I started reading an excerpt on line, and had to order it for my kindle right away. I am hoping to win a hard copy to give a friend that is going through some difficult times right now – I now it would be an inspiration for her! Thanks for the chance.
Hi Renee, I loved this mornings devotional and I’m so grateful that you chose it. Every am, when I do my devotion, I usually choose multiple resources to fill me for my day, I feel like I can’t EVER get enough. It’s amazing, cause the 3 different ones I read and watched today were about being content, regardless of where I am in my life, and there is nothing or noone on this earth to fill me like Christ Jesus. Of course, there are those days when I get caught up in a bad spot and realize I’ve been looking in places that will never do the job. I’ve been a Massage Therapist for 4 years and doing God’s work has really tested me in more ways than I ever realized it would. There are countless times I have doubted the path I’m traveling and scared of the unknowing. I thank God for his continued strength to do the work He has called me to do, and I pray with all that I am and all that He has blessed me with to continue impacting the lives of so many. I would love a copy of “A Confident Heart”, thank you so much for reading my post! God Bless You!!
I absolutely love your A Confident Heart. I would love it if I were to win the devotional. I believe it is a must for any woman.
Your devotional today really touched my heart. It is very similar to the beginning of my testimony. I was married, had a career that I loved, children, a home I loved, yet still felt so empty. However, I’m so stubborn, it took more than that for me to finally turn to God. It took several traumatic events in just 1 week for me to finally fall on my knees to God. I’m so thankful I did. God turns all bad into good for those who love him.
Two years later, I now live without a husband at home and only some of my children at home, yet I feel so full. Thank you God for filling my emptiness!!
My husband and I have been marred for almost 29 years. I love him so much. We been blessed with three wonderful boys. A daughter by marriage. I love her as my own, We have Grandson will be a year on the 23rd.This month. I have family not in-laws. My daughter family became our family. I’m so thankful for what we have. Still I feel so empty inside. I’m holding hope.
I AM SINGLE (WISOWED 4 Years)
I know these truths but it is so hard to make them a reality I find myself time and time again looking to get my needs met by my husband and other people. Only God can truly satisfy!
Unemployed for the past 10 months, had to retire from a job that I loved with all my heart (child care) and letting go of my dream to build a center in our town due to health issues. I am now helping my mother take care of her mom (my gram) currently on hospice with kidney and congestive heart failure. God has our lives and plans all timed out, and I know I am where I am suppose to be right now. Reading the Confident Woman is reassuring me of this and that I need to trust completely in him and he has something more precious in store for me. I have been blessed to be able to stay home and spend quality time with my own family, my son, and now my mother and grandmother.
I am just starting to read your book A Confident Heart and would LOVE to have the devotional to go along with it! Thank you for being so real!!
I was that woman!!!!… Desperate, and crazy at times, wanting (SOMEONE/ANYONE) to STAY and LOVE me. I hate that it took so many years to learn that my idea and knowkedge of true love was seriously miss guided and wrong. Now I thank Jesus for not answering those prayers…the thought of what I could have settled for, and been stuck with, is beyond frightening! Thank you for sharing.
I would love to get a copy of the devotional book. I just started reading your book and it has begun a much needed change in me and the way I look toward God. Coming from a performance based childhood, this has warped my views on God. Your book has opened my heart towards my Savior and my heart is starting to heal. Thank you!
I love God, with all my heart. Yet I find that I can never get enough fulfillment to satisfy me very long. I have doubt, live with doubt, it plagues my mind. I doubt I am good enough to be happy. I doubt I might be truly happy and fulfilled. Those are the thoughts I have on my ‘bad’ days, the days where the negative thoughts creep in and try to take over my mind and my heart. I was just recently diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder NOS, Depressive Disorder NOS, and Borderline Personality Disorder, wow I know right! I am a normally confident person, with a great smile and I am intelligent. It’s not often I doubt I deserve love or that I am loved because I know it to be true. I do however doubt I am good enough. I get nervous talking to people. I want to be bold! I need to know how to tap into the courage that God gave me that I know is in there! I am determined not to live by excuses of ‘oh I have a disorder so that’s why I am sad…’ I am determined to beat it at all costs. God is my hero. Jesus is my Savior. The spirit fills my soul.
That is a great story Renee.
Thank you for sharing your devotional. It really spoke to me. The prayer at the end was so beautiful. Realizing God is the real answer to satisfaction & peace. At times, I still struggle with feelings of “less than” because I am single. I tend to forget, I’m not alone. God is right here all the time. Your devotional reminded me of that. I would love to read The Five Love Languages, singles edition.