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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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I find that even as I grow older I still have many struggles. The devotional sounds wonderful!
As I am still learning to be single again after divorce, I faithfully read my Proverbs 31 emails. I appreciate the time and energy and love that you ladies put into inboxes daily. I hope to win The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition as I am struggling with the basics and cannot afford luxuries at this time. With God’s help, I will continue to learn and grow.
I remember with sadness how I often reached out for love in all the wrong places because I simply did not understand God’s unconditional love for me (and having a bad parental relationship did not help). Everyone else had a price, and I paid it in more ways than one. I am so glad that our Lord is so faithful. It took me many, many years to get there, but I do trust in my God. My Abba Father.
I recently purchased a copy of “A Confident Heart” and upon reading the first few pages thought it wasnt the book for me. I always felt that confidence was not an issue for me as my parents have instilled a strong sense of self in all of us. So, determined to stick it out until the end, I continued to read only to discover that my confidence wasn’t all that great after all. Not only had I not entrusted God with my children, marriage, and job, I relied on all those things to fill and fulfill me. Needless to say, I could hardly put the book down as you were sitting in my living room telling me all about myself. Now I know that God is the only one who gives me the confidence and courage to wither all of life’s storms, great and small. And through His word which embraces my heart and strengthens my soul, I can and will fight the good fight. I stand on His promises and continually find refuge in Him.
I do not have your devotional but would love to win one. I love the Confident Heart and have passed it to others. I plan to start back over the book again and the devotional would be great too.
Thank you for sharing God’s love
For years I struggled to find that unfailing, unconditional love….. Like the stories I’ve seen, I did desperate things with a desperate motive to latch on to what seemed so elusive. Finally, I realized it was only in His arms I would find what I sought. I jumped in and held on tight. Soon after, God blessed me with flesh that would fulfill His love in a fresh new way. My daughter now struggles, I would love to share a copy of the book with her……
thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this morning’s devotional by you that I receive in my email from Prov. 31 ministries. I would love to win a copy of A Confident Heart. I have no doubt that it will contain many truths that the Lord would want to show me.
I feel like I am entering a new season in my life and would love a copy of the book!
Thank you for the beautiful devotion today. It is a good reminder of Christ’s unconditional love for me. The following verse from scripture comes to mind.
We love him, because he first loved us. I John 4:19 KJV
As a single person, I appreciate the fact that you are offering something for single people. Thank you.
I would love to win a copy of the devotional. I’ve been dealing with depression and really coming to a relationship with Christ has been instrumental in my healing. Understanding and trusting God’s love is still a struggle but a real blessing when I can get a good hold on it. Thank you for this post today.
I would love to be blessed with a copy of your book “A Confident Heart”. God is currently working on getting me into action and see His action in my life. I am learning how, as I seek to see His will and direction in my life, to become more bold, daring and courageous to make my life a living testimony. Thank you for your words today, as they are a reminder that only our Father God can love us wholly, completely and truly unconditionally. God Bless!
I would really love to win a copy of “The Confident Heart” Devotional. I really have enjoyed all the excerpts that I have read so far. Thank you for the oppertunity.
Thank you for your devotion. I went from one relationships to another searching for someone to love me for me. I was never satisfied. Never could find that special person or things that I could love & be content with it. Until I was faced with being homeless & having a child who was disabled & in a wheelchair that I needed something real & the only thing or only one I hadn’t put my trust & love into was Jesus. So I sat on my couch that night & I prayed & I cried out to Jesus. I gave him my all that night. I turned everything over to him & I felt a love that I still can’t explain even today. I felt the load that I had been carrying for years being lifted off of my shoulders. I knew that night that I had finally find the love that I had been searching for. I thank Jesus every day & night for showing me that love everyday, no matter what I’m going through I know He is beside me loving me. Today, because of the love of my God, I’m living in a 3 bedroom house, my son is no longer in a wheelchair & I wake up everyday thanking God for everything He had brought me through.
I still find myself battling the lack of fulfillment that is only found in God. I know Him, I worship Him, I love Him….but I still don’t fully understand the allowing Him to fulfill me. I’m a bit of a control freak so it’s difficult for me to understand that anyone else can fully take care of something in me. I want to freely give to Him like this. I pray for this understanding.
Both taken aback and amazed !
I finished the book “A Confident Heart” and gave it to a friend of mine. This book was a blessing to me as I know it will be a blessing to my friend. I would love to win the devotional book as I grow stronger and closer to God.
I enjoyed this part of ACH book and it was a nice refresher to remember that HE is all I need. Your book, Renee, truly gave me some amazing tools to have the confident heart that God so wants us to have…it’s how He made us afterall. I refer back to ACH often and am grateful for it. Thank you for your insight, honesty and encouragement. I have had your devotion on my list…it seems like it would be a great tag along to your book!
This devotional this morning really hit home. Unconditional love has always escaped me. And I always felt that unconditional love was just a dream. But knowing God could ever love me any other way than unconditionally is so comforting. I would love to be entered into the drawing to win The 5 Love Languages: Singles Edition.
Is this how I enter to win. I have really enjoyed the book, it helped me accept Gods love and not be miserable when I did not recieve it from people. I would LOVE the devotional.
I started dating in high school and after I ended my first relationship after 3 1/2 years I always felt the need to be dating. I hated not having a boyfriend because then I wasn’t being loved. I had this ache to always be with a guy even if I knew deep down he was not the guy I would marry. Took me a very long time to change my ways. I am now married to a wonderful man who I love dearly but I know now that God is the only person who can truly make that need to be loved go away. I am taking classes at my church to deepen my faith and I am trying every day to be a better teacher to my children so that they may grow to understand just how deeply God’s love for us really is.
Thanks. This part blessed me “had this ache to always be with a guy even if I knew deep down he was not the guy I would marry.”…”I know now that God is the only person who can truly make that need to be loved go away.” Perfect timing Katie- thank you.
I was the same way!! It’s a long road…and I look forward to a marriage, like yours, someday. A marriage that I don’t “need”. A man who loves and pursues Jesus like I do.
Well, actually, this was so timely because I’m not married yet. Advice like this is golden 🙂