[1 Corinthians 13:3-7]

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts…”

TRUTH TO BELIEVE:
“But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:18-22, NIV

I had lunch with an old friend this week and she asked me about what I’m learning about love through marriage.  In essence I responded with “love always trusts.”  I realize that the world that we live in makes it really hard to desire this aspect of love.  Many of us enter relationships awaiting the other person to prove they are trustworthy.  Obviously we have been given intelligence to help us garner our emotions and make decisions, but I believe the overwhelming principle behind “love always trusts” is that love is graceful… it’s full of the grace we’ve been given through God.

Rather than assuming the worst, I’ve learned to assume the best about my husband. This was a huge light-bulb moment for all of my friendships and relationships.  Just because someone doesn’t behave or respond the way that I think they should doesn’t mean they don’t love or care about me.  I have yet to benefit in the long run by getting all huffy and bothered.  Giving a strong dose of grace to a situation can do wonders in keeping a small thing like giving me advice on how to brown onions from exploding into, “YOU DON’T THINK I CAN COOK?”  Love trusts that the other person is for me.

HOPE TO CLAIM:
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19, NIV

How can we learn to love by trusting others and thinking the best of them?  We continue to follow the example set before us.  Jesus loved us even in the midst of betrayal.  His grace makes loving others possible.

CHALLENGE TO EMBRACE:
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7, NIV

Prayer: Lord I trust you.  I love you.  Would you help me to obey you by loving others?  I find myself fearful of being hurt and worried by the pain others can inflict.  Would you help me to be wise, but also to begin to be faithful in loving others by giving them my trust.  Show me how to do this, Lord!  As I prepare my heart for your Son, let me also fling it wide to love those around me.  In Jesus’ Name… Amen

Love always trusts.

Following,
Ginger

Advent Resource:  “How in the World to get ready for Christmas?”  A beautiful post by Ann Voskamp over at A Holy Experience.  “This will take time. This will take waiting. I must make space for these….”