How much do you love your husband? Children? I know we love our families so much. We pray for them, serve them, would do anything for them. Do you ever feel not quite so loved in return? Maybe taken for granted or misunderstood? We all do at times. I have too.
I had a huge epiphany this morning. I was reading my scriptures in 4 Ne. 1:15 and it said, “…there was no contention in the land because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.” The love of God. This hit me in a way I had never considered before.
During my journey to find healing; to feel whole, loved, happy and content I realized that for a long time I focused on the love of God, specifically my love for God. I prayed and studied the scriptures, was very active in church, served others, had a strong testimony…BUT it wasn’t until I truly began to feel, understand and receive His love that I began to heal and become whole.
Don’t get me wrong, our love for God is vital, but are we truly accepting and receiving His love for us? I know for me one of the biggest lessons He taught me was that a lot of my stress, pain and overwhelm were caused because I let all the ideas and opinions of others define me. Once I chose to ignore those voices and seek out who He made me to be I began to know Him and myself on a whole new level! That was truly the turning point for me to begin living with peace and joy. Before that, I knew He loved me, I knew I was His child and had worth because of that, but I still felt inadequate, not good enough and discontented. It wasn’t until I began feeling His love and learning who He made me to be on a much more profound and deep level that I began to heal. Along the way I discovered the ways I didn’t always fully receive the love of my husband and children too.
In the scripture I quoted, was there peace and joy among the people because they loved God or was it because they truly knew His love? What is the state of your heart? I encourage you, whatever the current state of your heart, to strive to feel and receive His love and the love of those around you even more because it is there and you do deserve it.