1 Corinthians 13:4b, "[Love] never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful..." How many times do you think God has completely lost faith in you and said, "Well, I give up! This person is just way too frustrating and I don't want anything to do with them any more!"? The answer is NEVER! God is the one standing beside you even when all others have left. He is always faithful if we turn to him! 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I know that it is human nature to have head knowledge of something but not really feel it in our hearts. Here's a tip: Whenever you start to feel like God has actually deserted you, STOP YOURSELF and think about his goodness and faithfulness! Remember that you're not alone in the way you feel. Even David, a man after God's own heart, wrote many songs about how God had left him! However, he always ended the song thanking God that he hadn't left at all! Psalm 106:1, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

God is always there. We just have to open our hearts to that fact! Thank God for his grace and mercy!

Let us pray today that we will be more like God in our love! It would be so wonderful if our love was so faithful that nothing could shake it!

Everett