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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 always being faithful to share your thoughts about your walk with God. Unconditional love – what an amazing LORD we serve. Just basking…thanks for the reminder.
Wow I could use a confident heart. I know Jesus loves me and yet I sometimes feel empty and unloved. I needto let God work in my heart and think this devotion would help me a ton
I’ve gotten so off course these past few months that just hearing about His unconditional love is soothing.
I am trying to get to the heart of how and why it is that I can be doing so well and then all of a sudden just self-destruct and begin to make choices that only sabatoge everything I’ve ben working so hard at accomplishing (or building or doing or losing…).
I am realizing that people, (even the one’s with the best of intentions) , are NEVER my solution.
Digging into Him and His word is the only thing that seems to help. Perhaps it will only be when I finally get to the end of myself, TRULY, that this self-destructive cycle will stop.
Father help us all to have a deeper realization of your unconditional love.
Yes! I do the same. Just as people are never the solution, we ourselves can never be our own solution either. That’s why my best efforts are never good enough! Thanks for pointing this out and for pointing us back to prayer. God bless you.
Wow, i am newly back to being single after almost 10 years with my now ex-husband…. it was a different world, i was a different person then… I am trying to find where I fit, God has let me know i fit with him. i would love either book and im sure they are both great 🙂
I look forward to your daily devotionals, thank you for all that you do.
This was a great devotional. Sometimes as single people we seem to look to others to fulfill that longing for someone to love us. It is so reassuring to know that God gives us unconditional love always.
To coin a song… “I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places…” Lately, I have been questioning why I can’t seem to have and keep a long-lasting BEST friend. What I have discovered is that I am blessed with such a diverse group of friends, I should be so thankful for all of them… and enjoy each one’s company and relationship where it is. If I rely on God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit to be my BEST FRIEND… my Savior… my Redeemer… and depend on His Grace… I become satisfied with how my life is going. I am ready to love my earthly friends in whatever level of relationship we have, and count that as a gift. The only real BEST friend I need is the Heavenly One. With Him by my side, I know that I have that “unconditional love”.
I love reading your daily devotionals, and would love to have this book. Thank you.
I would love to win a copy of this devotional book in order to share it with my twin granddaughters who are 14 years old. One is a cheerleader and has been bullied so much by some of the other cheerleaders that she doubts everything about herself and is even at the point of Panic Attacks. She is a gorgeous, talented girl but feels unloved and disliked. We are trying to help her realize that God loves her unconditionally. Sometimes tho’ what one hears and believes “intellectually”, one does not internalize emotionally.
it’s been a long time since I have visit this blog. How good is God to have me a people pleaser to read this article. God is always right on time thanks, I needed to read this article much of the time I look to people to fulfill my needs instead of looking toward God. thanks again.
I would love to read the single book
Thank you so much for your devotion! I am currently going through a divorce from a husband who hasn’t been loving in a long time. I allowed his lack of love determine my self worth and thought if I could just get him to love me everything would be better. That is not the case. The best thing that has come out of this whole awful experience is that I have turned to God for strength. I didn’t realize that in my married years I strayed from the God who loves me unconditionally. I would love to receive your devotional. Thank you!
I think I struggle with the idea that any person, including God is willing to give me unconditional love. It is such an awesome gift that I don’t think I could ever be worthy of it. But then that’s just the point isn’t it.
This really touched my heart because I too have been searching for years until recently and I appreciate the added conformation of this reading. Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today and the first thing I need to accept daily, sometimes hourly, is God’s love for me even when I am not at my best. It is not because of what I do but what Jesus did on the cross for me. Accept it, believe it! Sometimes are harder than others. Thank you
I was touched by your devotion especially the prayer at the end “Jesus, help me stop searching for fulfillment in anything or anyone but You.”
Renee,
Thank you so much for your devotions. Encouragement for Today always seems to be a message straight from God that I need to hear that day. Even though I am a successful mom, teacher, and friend, I constantly deal with Satan’s instrument of self doubt. After going through an emotionally abusive relationship and marriage of 15 years and a recent divorce, that happens even more now. Why is it human nature to always go back to “human nature” even when we are trying to walk with God and know of his unwavering love? I would love to have more tools to help me cope with that nature and become stronger in my relationship with Him.
Thank you for your message and sharing your gifts.
I love the verse in Psalm 147 that says God is of infinite understanding
I am reading your book for the second time. As I read, God is speaking directly to my heart. Thank you for writing this book and I would love to have the devotional to go along with the book!
I never thought about reading a second time! I love that idea!!
I have gone through some very life changing events in the past two years. Divorcing a mentally abusive husband, being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, moving to another state and placing my special needs son after caring for him for 23 years myself. I know God is with me, however, my confidence and faith has waivered. I have started your book and it has been very helpful. The devotional book would be a wonderful help to me in my daily renewal of faith and confidence.
I would like to win this bc I read your book and could use this to remind myself to be confident in him. I can understand why I was looking for love in all the wrong places now.
I look forward to reading your new devotional. In January I get reall excited to start the new year with a few new devotional s.