How God’s Love Frees You To Be All You Were Created To Be | How God’s Love Changes Everything

Growing up, I desperately sought the love of my dad. Like a hide and seek game, I attempted the ways I thought would make him happy, yet the love continued to hide. During my teenage years, this deep well of needing love led to seeking it from boys, exchanging what they wanted in return for any form of “love” they had to offer.

We all have that need to be loved, seen, and accepted. Somewhere along the path of life, we learn to distrust His love. Perhaps it was the lack of a father’s love, the rejection of a mother’s touch, or the piercing pain of cruel words. Trapped in this hide and seek cycle that never satisfies, we become more hardened to the real love of our heavenly Father.

But from the moment Christ stepped into time for you and me, He lived a life of love and acceptance showing the full extent of His love on the cross (John 13:1).

The Creator and Sustainer of every beating heart knew the greatest motivator of change was – and remains – love. The freedom every soul seeks is nestled in His love; acceptance is wrapped in His arms of love. And when we throw off the substitute cloaks that weigh us down and rest in His love, we can be everything He created us to be. We can live the life He destined before the galaxies whirled into motion.

John, the author of the Love Gospel, knew those loving arms. Though he was dubbed “Son of Thunder,” he experienced the personal, intimate love of Christ, often referring to himself as “the one whom Jesus loves.” He was fully known, wildly loved.

Knowing Christ’s abounding love freed him, and us, to ask questions no one else would, remain at the foot of the cross, be entrusted with precious gifts, run passionately after Him, believe when he didn’t understand, recognize the work of Christ, and remain content.

1. REST IN

Understanding Christ knows everything about you and loves everything about you opens a new level of proximity in our relationship with Christ. Not only can you rest against the One who holds the future in His palm, but you can also ask Him questions others won’t. Sitting at the Last Supper, both Peter and John had direct access to Christ, but we find Peter motioning John to ask the hard question of who would betray Jesus. What kept Peter from merely asking the question himself? Was it fear? Resting in His love for us reassures us that He has the answer to our hard questions and we can ask Him directly.

• After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” John 13:21-25

2. REMAIN | RECEIVE | RELEASE

When we know how much we are loved, we have the freedom to draw near the cross without fear. No other Gospel mentions a disciple “near the cross” because they all disbanded in fear. But here we see John at the foot, and in return, Jesus entrusted him with His mother. When we rest in His finished and unlimited love, we are positioned to receive His prized possessions and release His kingdom to those around. Then we can boldly approach His throne of grace because His perfect love casts out fear. Freely you have received His love now you can freely release it.

• Near the cross of Jesus … When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

3. RADIATE PASSION

Can you see the passion of John as he raced toward the empty tomb? Love is the key that unleashes us from striving and empowers us to run our race passionately. It keeps us from allowing others to cut in on that race (Galatians 5:7). This steadfast pursuit of God flourishes in the Son’s love and allows us to bloom into the purpose and calling in our lives. Rest in His love, set your eyes on Him, throw off everything that hinders or entangles, and radiate passion for His work in your world (Hebrews 12:1-2). You were made to shine!

• So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. John 20:2–5

4. RELY AND TRUST

His love is the firm foundation when we don’t understand why things are the way they are. Unless you know how much you are loved, it’s easy to drift when things don’t make sense. Though they still did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead to fulfill His purpose, they relied on faith. Trust and reliance are built upon the solid ground of His perfect love. Here you can take off the training wheels of trust knowing His love will never fail to catch you. His loving devotion can be trusted and relied upon. Knowing you are deeply loved helps you say “yes” to reliance and trust.

• Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed. For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. John 20:8-9

5. RECOGNIZE HIS WORK

John’s capability to rest in and receive Christ’s love also allowed him the ability to quickly recognize his Savior’s work. After spending a night fishing without any return, Jesus tells the disciples to cast the net on the other side. Their obedience opened John’s eyes to see the Lord in the glimmer of the morning light. Grasping how deep, how wide, and how high His love is for us opens our spiritual eyes to see His hand at work. Eyes of love bridge the gap between heavenly realities and our earthly circumstances. 

• And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. John 21:5-7

6. REPLACE

God’s unmatchless love reminds us that we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world and set apart to do mighty things through the One who gives us strength. Embracing His unfailing love satisfies our souls and the need to compare. In this verse, we watch as John, who once asked for a special place in the Kingdom, is following Peter and Jesus but not competing for a position. When we know how much He loves us, we can rest and follow Him even when others seem more successful. Understanding how thoroughly loved and cherished you are replaces the scarcity mentality with a beloved heir mentality, one who has access to all the King’s resources. Contentment is not based on what you have but rather Who you have. Because the comparison of someone else’s gifts, talents, and abilities tends to dwindle in the light of His love.

• Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” John 21:20-21

When we recognize how profound His love for us is, we are free to be all we were created to be. Here we can rest against, remain at His feet, receive from Him, and release His kingdom. Radiating passion for Him surges as you build reliance upon Him, recognizing His work in your life. Finally, replace that scarcity mentality because YOU ARE THE ONE WHOM JESUS LOVES – fully known, wildly loved.

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