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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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Praise God for His unfailing love. He has been filling my void for 33years!
Renee thank you for your words of encouragement. Two years ago I stepped off a mountain in blind faith…I finally surrendered & He caught me. From that Tuesday on, I finally experienced God’s love & filling every space in my heart. Recently I have been struggling from certain circumstances, Your devotion reminded me not to get distracted and stay close to the One who pursues my heart.
Finding worth through others’ eyes continues to be a struggle. A confident heart through God is so much better for each of us.
I am a single woman who is career driven and focused, but hiss devotion helped me realize that it’s ok to still longed to be loved in this manner and deepening my relationship with God can fill that empty space. The devotion touched my heart because I have been an “ezer” kind of helper to everyone but have not allowed God to be the unconditional person who loves me in my life. As a single, woman who still longs to be married, I would like to better understand the 5 love languages, as a single person, so that I can deepen my love relationship with God.
I’d love a copy, how i long to feel that love.
I know God loves me unconditionally but I have a hard time practicing it. I would love to win the devotional to “retrain” my thought patterns and finally start living in His love.
I would love the devotional. A Confident Heart found me last year when I was struggling through a dark place. God’s love and hope took over and helped me find the good. Thank u for listening to Him and writing this book. God is so good!
This is just what I needed to hear this morning. I have to admit I am also guilty of trying to please others and finding fulfilment and I know in my heart of hearts I need to rest and find it in Jesus. I love this verse in today’s devoted you used, yes Lord help us to find unconditional love in You and be filled with joy in all our days.
It is true that we are at times sooo empty and nothing seems able to fill that GOD-CREATED VACUUM inside us except Him.Am interesting in winning any of your books…especially the one in which you talk about thye vacuum inside of us needing God to fill it.
This devotion really touched me. I struggle with the idea of unconditional love. I’d love to win Renee’s book.
I know in my head that God loves me unconditionally, I just wish I knew how to accept it and believe it in my heart. I don’t want to “look” for love anymore, it’s a very tiring process! 🙂
Its 2:30 in the morning and I literally just signed up for a dating website “mixer”, then I read the daily devotional. It made me realize that already have what it is I think I’m missing, true and unconditional love. I just have to learn to accept it. Also to keep reminding myself that although I’m 41, never been married, been in and out of bad relationships its in the Lords time, not mine, he will bring someone into my life.
Oh, I would love to win the 5 Love Languages: Singles Edition! Thanks
I’m constantly trying to make the people in my life pleased with me, but I’d like to think it’s in a Godly way. I don’t want to bring disharmony to my family, and I unintentionally do so. So for the past six mo. I’ve been feverishly seeking to be closer to God. And I’ve been taking actions to show my obiedience. But I’m constantly searching ways that He wants me to become closer to Him. Now I wake up early and get on my knees and start my day with a formal prayer, along with the regular ongoing prayers throughout the day, and I also am in an online Bible study where I’m reading the Bible chronologically in a year and a Bible/book study, and exercise where I can meditate. I’m searching a new church to guide me and my son, but I’m far from filled.
I just recently got your book Confident Heart, but I definitely want the devotional if it’s a companion, if it’s the same, I would love to win a second copy to gift my aunt who just had an “awakening” as she calls it, and has really felt the Spirit redefining her life and purifying her.
Knowing God’s love is unconditional and all we need is one thing but remembering it each day is another! 🙂 Thanks so much for the reminder! It is so easy to look to my husband to fill my love cup or be disappointed when he doesn’t. It’s good to be reminded to only look to God to fill me up! Thank you!! I would love to win The 5 Love Languages.
I have had an experience exactly like this.
I was so consumed by this guy I was with for 3 years. I was 100% convinced we would get married, and then
we broke up.
This was a wake up call- I realized what he become to me, an idol!
I realized that he dragged me down and turned me into this “crazy girl” [who would be DEVASTATED if he cancelled our plans, for example, or wanted to go out with his friends without me]
I would get hurt for days and never was satisfied by anything he did…
So, I appreciate this post of yours in particular because now I am single for the first time since freshman year of high school ( I’m 22), and I’m learning how to become the BEST woman of God in preparation for my future man : )
Thank you for sharing…..girls need to hear things like this more and realize they aren’t alone in feeling that the relationship can break them so easily.
-Cameron Adams
I would be interested in the singles devotional! Thank you for writing.
Cameron I am praying for you and encouraging you to continue your walk. “Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble”.
I never thought God had it in Him t love someone like me after the stunts I pull sometimes. Getting over this fact has been hard. No one has loved me like that ever. Many days I have not measured up but yet He is still there for me. I find that amazing and it is why I keep searching for Him. I am grateful.
Thank you for this word because I needed it. Your words made me have an “aha” moment. Thank God for unfailing love. I would love to receive books to aid me in continuing my journey in seeking God’s unfailing love.
This is spot on. I also am this woman. Would love to have Love Languages for Singles.
Renee, A Confident Heart changed my life. I studied it with P31OBS last year at a time when many things in my life were changing…my job, my location, my financial situation. It helped me to see where I had been trying to fill my need for acceptance and belonging from the world, rather than from The Lord alone. It helped me to uncover the self-created labels I had stuck all over myself. It helped me to face my past and leave it there…moving forward into a new life.
God’s unfailing love is enough…anything else is a precious bonus for me to treasure, but not put in high places and long for to give me the comfort that can only come for God.
Thank you so much!
I really saw a lot of myself in this devotional. I have done some of these same things, seeking the unfailing love of a man. Even now, after being out of high school for over 10 years, I still have the same feelings of insecurity when it comes to relationships. I have spent years pursuing relationships that I had no business being in, and thank God that He did not allow them. My father once told me in my teen years that I was looking for love in all the wrong places. At the time, I thought he meant I should be making better choices in looking for a partner, but now I realize (and am ready) to make God the center of my life & wait to see what that has in store for me, instead of trying to make a relationship fill my heart. I would love to read Renee’s devotional about having a confident heart.