Today was a tough day getting started for me. Have you ever had a night where sleep just didn’t come, and what sleep you had didn’t provide any peace? Yes, me too, and last night was one of those nights.

As I got ready for work, I turned on the radio as I do every morning. I always listen to a station called K-LOVE. The silence broke into mid song as the singer admitted:

Still You call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside…

This is a song I’ve heard at least a hundred times before, but this morning, the words hit me like a pebble tossed into a glassy lake, upsetting the still exterior and rippling through me. The words sung mirrored the tiredness and pain inside. My heart was shattered. Old feelings of worthlessness had crept in the day before and rummaged through my soul as I slept. I had awoken empty and feeling alone and unlovable.

The lyricist continued:

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes, You love me anyway
Oh, Lord, how You love me
How You love me

“But You love me anyway…” Over and over again the lyrics repeated this exclamation. No matter what the writer has done, God loves him. No matter how he feels, God loves him. No matter how severe the offense, God loves him. No matter how much the writer understands God’s ways, no matter his doubt or lack of faith, no matter how arrogant or spiteful, whether he harms others intentionally or not, God loves him.

No matter how weak or empty inside, God loves him.

The Man/God who died on a cross as each one of us thrust thorns into His head, slammed nails into His hands and feet, spit on Him, laughed at Him… ran from Him – that Man died because of and in spite of all that because He loves us.

My weary and broken heart awoke to a song that got it beating again. 

But You love me anyway
Oh, God, how You love me
Yes, You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes, You love me anyway
Oh, Lord, how You love me
Yes, You love me,
Yes, You love me
Yes, You love me,
Yes, You love me

How You love me
How You love me
How You love me

Can you relate? Are you hurting? Do you feel empty? Has all your strength been sapped by the storms of life? Do feelings of guilt or shame overwhelm you? Have you put on your running shoes in hopes to escape future pain? Is there a huge void inside where love once resided but now, for whatever reason, is gone?

Unlovable. But He loves you anyway.
Empty. But He loves you anyway.
Ashamed. But He loves you anyway.
Guilty. But He loves you anyway.
Doubting. But He loves you anyway.
Prodigal. But He loves you anyway.
Scared. But He loves you anyway.
Tired. But He loves you anyway.
Weak. But He loves you anyway.

No matter where you are, no matter how you feel, no matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or what you’ve gone through – God loves you. Your life is no surprise to Him, yet He loves you so much, He died for you. All those who mock Him, fail Him, run from Him, He loves you anyway.

This song that gave so much hope to this weary heart that writes to you now is by a group called Sidewalk Prophets. If you need some encouragement today, listen online by clicking the link below. Let the words seep into your soul and write on your heart “God loves me.”

Bless and be blessed.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God… And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
~1 John 4:7a, 16a