Have you ever wondered what God’s love means? It’s an unconditional love that has no strings attached and it was freely given irrespective of our pasts, flaws, failures and mistakes. For someone from a broken home, who has been abused or isn’t used to pure love from others, then understanding and accepting God’s love would be difficult. In this article, we will explore the concept of unconditional love and how to accept it in our lives.
What is Unconditional Love?
Unconditional love is often a kind of love that requires nothing in return, it has nothing to do with who you are or what you do. For instance, A businessman’s love for a client is based on the profit He will be getting in return. However, God’s love is purely given and is based on no profit.
In the Bible, 1 John 4:8 — says that “…God is love.”[NLT] For Him to have loved us even before we were formed simply means that everything He does is driven by love.
Why is it Hard to Accept Unconditional Love?
There is always a struggle to accept God’s love because
• We feel unworthy or undeserving of such pure and perfect love,
• Negative experience of unconditional love from other people,
• Past Mistakes or Sins,
• Refusal to let go, etc.
I could remember discussing with a friend some time ago and she shared with me how she feels unworthy of God’s love because each time she looks back, she remembers the time she has wasted living a wild life and the number of people she has hurt in the process.
It’s okay to think like that, However, the Bible confirms in Romans 5: 8 that — “…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”[KJV] Hence, God’s love doesn’t hold on to our past or mistakes.
How to Accept God’s, Unconditional Love
Accepting God’s unconditional love is a process that requires a change in our mindset and our heart. Here are some steps we can take to accept God’s love:
1. Believe that God loves you
The first step in every process is believing and it’s the same thing when it comes to accepting God’s love. Am I saying it’d be easy? Of course, not.
John 3:16 says,— “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”[NIV]
2. Forgive yourself
Just like it’d not be easy to go into a new relationship if you haven’t healed from your past relationship the same way it wouldn’t be easy to accept God’s love if you haven’t healed and forgiven yourself.
Remember, The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”[NIV]
3. Let go of the past
It’s like a baby holding a big teddy in her hands while trying to accept another huge teddy, it’d be impossible because she’s holding on to something else already.
Subsequently, Holding onto past hurts, mistakes, and regrets can make it difficult to accept God’s love. It is important to let go of the past and focus on the present. Philippians 3:13-14 says, — “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…”[NIV]
4. Spend time with God
If you’re in a romantic relationship, you’re expected to spend time with your partner for a better understanding and acceptance. Thus, Spending time with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and attending church can help us understand His love better, build a relationship and connect more deeply with Him.
CONCLUSION
It might be difficult to accept God’s, unconditional love, I’ve been there, but I’ve been able to move past it by letting go of the past, forgiving myself, spending time with Him, praying and all. His love for you is real, only if you can accept it today.
Are you struggling with accepting God’s love or have you ever found yourself struggling with it? What was your experience and how did you overcome it? Share with us.