Unconditional love. Is it just for the movies? We throw that word, ‘unconditional’ around, don’t we? But when the going gets tough, and life gets messy, we really do have conditions around our ability to love or be loved. In the middle of a big fight with our spouse or child, or after being offended by a best friend, it’s easy to realize just how many strings are attached to the love we either give or receive. Not so unconditional after all.
Because of this flawed love that we experience in our human relationships, it’s difficult to truly understand the unconditional love that God has for His children. It’s one thing to say we are loved unconditionally, but to believe God truly loves you with zero conditions with all of your heart, soul and mind is oftentimes impossible.
The stories of the lost sheep and the prodigal son that Jesus told in Luke chapter 15 emphasize Jesus’ unending pursuit of those who are lost, symbolizing his relentless love and forgiveness. These teachings form the foundation of the belief that Jesus’ love transcends human imperfections and failures. The moral of those stories: you can go out, squander your life, lose yourself in everything that was never meant for you, and Jesus will still love you. There really are no strings to His love.
Getting to the core of this no-strings-attached kind of love will dramatically affect how you perceive yourself and your relationships. Embracing the idea of being unconditionally loved by God will lead to increased self-worth, self-acceptance, and empathy towards others, empowering you to extend love, compassion, and forgiveness to others.
No matter your doubt or lack of self-worth that may lead to you disbelieving Jesus really loves you unconditionally, it’s worth the time, faith and self-reflection to adopt this belief. If you’re struggling with believing you are loved by God unconditionally, seek support from fellow believers or spiritual leaders. It will be worth every effort.