How do I know God loves me?

by Toyosi Adegunle

Trust me, almost every believer at some point in their journey with God has asked this same question and truly wondered and sought for proof that they are loved by God.  We are often told by friends, family, songs, movies, pictures, and mostly Preachers that “God loves you”. Sometimes, it can just start to look like theory, especially in difficult times where you aren’t actually 'seeing’ or experiencing the love of God. Where is His love then? How do you know God loves you?

In those moments when you are overwhelmed, sad, weak, you probably just lost your job or loved one, you’re not where you are supposed to be, you don’t have all that you wish for, you are struggling with a habit that you really want to stop, you had a really rough day, you are battling an ailment or sickness, things aren’t going well for you, you pray so hard, yet things are not working fine and you just have one question on your mind - “does God really love me?” “If he does, why am I such a mess?” “If he does truly love me, why wouldn’t He just show it?”. So many ifs and whys that can cause you to question God’s love.

The answer is that God loves you, and the best place to find proof is the Word of God. The word of God carries thousands of proof that God loves you. 

John 3:16 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have. eternal life” 

God’s greatest gift and proof of love is Jesus - salvation. God sent his beloved Son so that you can have a High Priest that can relate with your weakness and issues and can equally help you out. Due to this, there is abundant mercy and grace to pull through in times of need.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Listen, Christ died for you when you didn't even know or care about Him. Now tell me if that is not an act of unconditional love for you. He gave His life, carried the cross and endured the shame all for you. This is the proof of love for you! His love can't be defined by earthly things that can be accessed by unbelievers like wealth. His love gave you eternal salvation, there's nothing that can beat that. Ever! 

Psalm 139:1-4.  (NKJV) O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down And are acquainted with all my ways. For there  is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether." 

God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows and cares about every pleasant and unpleasant situation in your life. He doesn’t leave you, he is always there, watching and supplying you with strength and grace to pull through life. 

Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV) "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

God made you in his image - express image. You are made to be beautiful, glorious, and strong with all-round excellence. Look into the mirror, look at yourself and see how beautifully God has made your face, your voice, your body, your life, the people around you, nature (for you to enjoy), everything God made, including you are beautiful and it’s all for you to enjoy as well. The next time you search for proof of God’s love, take a selfie, look at the sun, feel the beautiful and peaceful breeze, admire nature, and be thankful.

Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬(NKJV)“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” 

God has the most beautiful thoughts of you and plans for you, and he can share his thoughts with you as well if you ask him. God is willing and ready to show you how much he loves you if you let him. It’s okay to ask questions, look for proof or feel funny sometimes, but as you go deeper with God, the more you understand that God really and truly loves you. 

On the other hand, some people are used to questioning God’s love for them only when they are in unpleasant situations. It is wrong and vain to judge God’s love and goodness by current or previous physical experiences. Are you the type that sings of God’s love and goodness when all is well, and then says otherwise when things are going bad? The love of God is always there irrespective of what goes on with you. Read Is God's love truly enough to get a fresher dimension of His love for you here. His love is constant and can't be defined by our life experiences, check our Is God truly good to learn more about this. 

Brother and Sisters, see this in Romans‬ ‭8:35-39‬ ‭(KJV)‬‬

“Who (or what) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I know in times of want and lack, we tend to question God's love for us. When calamity strikes we tend to question God's love for us. When things are not going as planned, we tend to question God's love for us.  But let me tell you this, nothing is capable of separating you from the Love of God which is so deep, high, and wide - it is reckless, unconditional and the human mind does not have enough capacity to fully understand it but know that God loves you, always. 

You're extremely loved by God. If you'll like to grow in the knowledge of God's love for you, check out scriptures to help you meditate on God's unconditional love here.