1 John 4

All I can think about is God's love. I can't form the right words to tell you how I'm feeling, except that if you know what God's love is like, you understand.

He is jealous for me.
I talked with a couple of my sisters in Christ about this tonight. (Also the topic of my post "Green with Jealousy.")
There is a void in every person's heart that Christ alone can fill. We, as women, try to stick men in that hole. We try to put friendships and relationships there. We even try to exercise or tan or diet to make our bodies look good so we can love ourselves in order to fill that void.
But God says stop it. Nothing will make that yearning for love and affection go away -- not a marriage, not a diet, not a best friend, not a new baby, not a mom or a dad. All these things might come close, temporarily. But it just ain't happenin' in the long run.

And the beautiful part is that God's not going to let that void be filled. Because it's His place in your heart. It's His place in my heart. And He says no, ma'am I'm not letting any flawed person or thing take My place in that hole because that will leave you wounded, daughter! But God can fill that void in our lives in a way that is satisfying, that does satiate that horrible, nagging, longing feeling and never leaves you feeling alone or lacking or let down. And He wants to.

But as long as we try to put other things in God's place, we will not be content. God won't let us be. Because He is a jealous God, thankfully.

And when we do fill that void with Him, and we are complete, there is nothing that can disappoint. When we are seated in Christ and focused on Him and He is dwelling in our hearts, no amount of depression or grief or disappointment or angry bitterness can defeat us because He will enable us with the Spirit to get past whatever it is we are struggling against.

This is God's love dwelling in us, and this is what I cannot get off my mind. So many things around me right now are speaking of it, and I want to just listen.

God, let me know more fully Your love and its power in my life and the lives of others.