Does God still love us?

Most of us have read the Bible for many years. It is good to read the familiar verses and wrap yourself in them as if they were a warm blanket. It can happen that our familiarity causes us to overlook important details. If we read them with alert eyes and from a new perspective, the Holy Spirit can help us to see more and possibly remind us of things that we have forgotten.

When I was reading the book of Acts again, I came across a passage that you may have read without paying much attention to it: "And for forty years he endured it in the wilderness" (Acts 13,18 1984). I had heard this passage in my memory and heard that God had to endure the wailing and lamenting Israelites as if they had been a great burden for him.

But then I read the reference: «And you also experienced how the Lord your God helped you on the way through the desert. Up to here he has carried you like a father his child »(5. Mose 1,31 Hope for all).

The new 2017 translation of the Luther Bible reads: "And for forty years he carried her in the desert" (Acts 13,18) or as the MacDonald Commentary explains: "Provide for someone's needs". God certainly did that for the Israelites, despite all their murmuring.

A light has dawned on me. Of course he had taken care of them; they had food, water and shoes that didn’t wear out. Although I knew that God would not starve her, I never realized how close and deeply he was to her life. It was so encouraging to read that God carried his people as a father carries his son.

Sometimes we feel that God is having a hard time bearing us or that He is sick of dealing with our and our ongoing problems. Our prayers seem to be the same over and over again, and we keep getting caught up in familiar sins. Even if we nag sometimes and act like ungrateful Israelites, God takes care of us no matter how much we complain; on the other hand, I'm sure he'd prefer us to thank him rather than complain.

Christians in full-time ministry, but also all Christians who serve and support people in some way, can get tired and burn out. In this situation, one begins to see one's siblings as unbearable Israelites, which can lead to the "annoying" problems of theirs. To endure something means to tolerate something that you don't like or to accept something that is bad. God doesn't see us like that! We are all his children and need respectful, compassionate, and loving care. With his love that flows through us, we can love our neighbors instead of just enduring them. If necessary, we will be able to carry someone if their strength is no longer sufficient on the way.

Let yourself be reminded that God not only cared for His people in the desert, but also holds you personally in His loving arms. He carries you on and on and doesn't stop loving and caring for you, even when you complain and forget to be grateful. God's unconditional love surrounds you throughout your life, whether you are aware of it or not.

by Tammy Tkach