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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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Unconditional Love is something I have been searching for my entire life. I sought it first from my parents, then when I got married from my husband. Then I looked for it from my children and from close friends. I am learning now that only my God can give me unconditional love. It is still hard for me to understand how he could love me that much…..
Renee, I would love to win your book. I have three daughters in their 40s and one daughter-in-love who is also in her 40s. They are the mothers of my 12 wonderful grandchildren. I love to send them books from various authors to help keep their faith alive and strong. Thank you for offering your friends a chance to win your book.
Lois Tanner
Loved the book, can’t wait to see the devotional.
I took the Proverbs 31 OBS, and through this OBS, my husband lost his job! The lady he worked for for almost 20 years went home one day after work and had a heart attack and past away! Boy you talk about worry, stress, anxiety setting in, I was experiencing it all! Well I decided to put to use what I was learning from The Confident Heart Bible Study! So I started saying I know who I am, I am a child of the one try king! I have a confident heart through Jesus Christ and no one or no situation can keep me from the love of God! You see if he be for me, what can come against me! My favorite was, He goes before me and He follows behind me! So I am the inside of a God sandwich! What do I have to fear, cause my God didn’t give me the spirit of fear but of love power and peace! Well to make the long story short, my husband went to her memorial to find out that the family had decided to give my husband all the equipment and the customer list to the business! Yes my God just handed the company over to my husband! WOW!! This is what your book and that OBS taught me! We have to stay confident in Christ at all times! Even when the circumstances seem hopeless, God is there working everything to our good! So if I’m chosen, I defiantly want the Confident Heart Devotional! I tried to win it several times during the bible study and came up empty handed, but not empty heart! Thank You Renee, you are truly an inspiration and blessing!
It is a great reminder that only God can fill those empty places, not another human being! I would love the devotional of a confident heart.
I would love to when the 60 day devotional of a confident heart. I just finished the confident heart Bible study and I am still learning and trying to accept Who I am in Christ. The gift and the unconditional love God has for me in Christ Jesus. This devotional would help me on my journey. I can feel God talking and the Holy Spirit working with me.
It hit me right in the gut. I’ve been struggling to feel satisfied. Everything is good or great at home, at work, at church – I just want more and I don’t know why. Or maybe I do – maybe I just want their approval and love.
I have read your book, A confident Heart, and really enjoyed it. The devotional book sounds interesting to have a daily reminder available at your fingertips.
Great devotional. Please sign me up to win your Confident Heart Devotional.
Thank you.
Thank you Jesus for your unfailing love. Today’s devotional is a good reminder that only Jesus can love on us like He can and like we need. Our worth is found Him. Sometimes we look to man (patricularly our husbands) and we’re disappointed when we don’t seem to get the “love” we “need”. We should never loose sight of that amazing truth of God’s unfailing, amazing, unconditional love. Oh how I love Him.
As always your devotion touched my heart. So many been there done that experiences are shared among so many of us. Would love the devotion book; it will make a perfect companion to your A Confident Heart book that I already have.
Thank you Renee for the link!
I love reading all of your devotionals along with the other writers from Proverbs 31 Ministry. They hit at the heart of life issues. They are great mirrors to face and take a hard look into one’s heart and soul. I use these for my own transformation work by God’s Spirit to mold me to be more like him. I also pass these devotionals along to women I am ministering too! They really speak to the heart of the matter. Great tools of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training unto righteousness. Thank you for showing your heart and weaknesses, so we all can respond in a biblical manner.
I almost forgot.. hope everyone has a blessed day!!
Thanks for your word for today on unconditional love. Too often we find ourselves looking to people or things to fill us and it’s interesting to note that only God can fill us. His unconditional love for us is shown in that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. I’m really grateful for your text and hope to win a copy of your devotional or will have to get myself a copy either way.
Today’s devotional regarding unconditional love really spoke to me.. For years I have been trying to win the approval or love of my 2 sisters in law.. Something has happened over the years to wedge a wall between us.. Living in West Texas has helped me to process this but again, something has been missing until I read the devotional this morning.. It was an “a Hah” moment for me!! I have tried to get them to notice me for years.. emails.. cards.. phone calls.. as you so well put it.. humiliating.. Thru my insecurity, I was looking for unconditional love.. and today.. realized God is the only one who can give us a sense of Unfailing love!! If this devotional is anywhere near what is in your confident heart devotional, I hope God will bless me with this book.
I know I still look to my husband and others to meet my emotional needs, but I’m working on it and making it a priority this year. I recently purchased the book from Lifeway when it was on sale a week ago, so the devotional to go with it would be wonderful! God has definitely given you insight in this area and thank you for sharing it!
Would love the devotional book…still dealing with the question I asked Him whenI did the Confidence Heart study “when, how and why did I throw my confidence away?” Hebrews 10:35-36 has comforted, encouraged, challenged me…thanks sisters for sharing your journey:)sandyT
I am just begining my walk with Christ. I’m just begining to learn of the Lord’s unconditional love for me. It humbles my heart to even try to imagine the love it took for God to send his only son to die on a cross for me. I see my own son and I can’t even being to imagine feeding him to the wolves knowing he would suffer and die for the benefit of another. I am so unimaginably grateful for the unconditional love of our King and redeemer. I would love a copy of A Confident Heart Devotional. Even if I don’t “win” one, I’ll be making this purchase on my own.
Would love a copy of the Confident Heart devotional – The book sounds great and that I could benefit from it – will be searching the net for that .