“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

A friend told me the other day that I’m highly favored and loved by God.

I didn’t believe it.

Me? Highly favored? My life is like an amusement park ride — sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, sometimes a screw pops out of something important, and someone’s putting up caution tape. The only consistency for me is always being stressed, sleepy and hungry.

The things I know I need to do? I haven’t done them.
The things I know I shouldn’t do? I've done them all.

No matter how hard I try or how many social media tutorials I’ve watched, my performance always falls short.

Why would a perfect God love someone so imperfect?

Because God is love.

Which makes these famous scriptures on the topic of love a clear snapshot of our God:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

We’ve perhaps heard this passage at weddings and seen it crocheted on pillows, but it changes the game when we think of God this way, doesn’t it?

Because Jesus lived and loved perfectly, God loves His people without conditions or a checklist to satisfy. He’s not keeping score or holding a grudge against His children. His love is perfect. And it’s free. The price for it has already been paid in full by Jesus on the cross, and we don’t have to perform perfectly to earn it.

This is a perfect love from a perfect God, given as a gift to imperfect people.

Seems too good to be true, right? It’s hard for us to believe this because the version of love we see every day is conditional. It’s a love based off of the numbers on the scale or the numbers in our bank accounts. Swipe left or swipe right — if you don’t measure up, you’re not worthy. If you don’t get the grades or the job, you’re not enough.

The truth is: We are not enough.

The good news is: We were never meant to be.

This means we are free — free from our fears, our obsession with performance, our unrealistic expectations.

We will always fall short, but God isn’t keeping a tally of every mishap and slip-up to condemn His people. He offers forgiveness. God doesn’t need our performance — He wants our surrender. He wants us to give up trying to earn our worth and instead believe what is unfair and undeserved:

We are unconditionally loved.
We are redeemed by His sacrifice.
We are highly favored when we walk with Him.
We are not enough, but His love is.

And that’s the beauty of the gospel message.

Let’s believe it and receive it today.

Precious and perfect God, help me to remember that my worth is not in my performance but in who You say I am: loved without conditions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Ephesians 1:4, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love …” (NIV)

The fact that you are loved is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to who God says you are. In your phone or journal, start a list of “Who God Says I Am,” and build your identity on God’s Word, not your own performance.

Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, what characteristics of God’s love did you need to hear today? Let us know in the comments.

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