Because He Loves Us

“I miss the Food Network,” I tell her over tea and pastries. Her eyes turn bright while her shoulders square up for conversation. And she asks me excitedly which shows I miss most.

My answer surprised even me. Because I don’t remember scheduling my days around them or talking to my best of friends about them.

What I do know is I haven’t forgotten what they taught me.

Take Alton Brown for example. Now, he can show me how to ensure the best hard-boiled egg every time.

A lot of people can do that, yes.

But he tells me why.

And if you tell me why and show me how, it clicks with me. I’ll never forget.

She takes a sip from her brew as she gathers her thoughts. And confesses how we differ with her next breath.

“I don’t need to hear why, I just need to see it. All of it.
Not the beginning and cut to the presentation bit. All of it.”

My head nods repeatedly. I swirl my spoon around the rim as I tell her,

“We both need the details!
You need to see them, I need to hear them,
but we both need to know them.”

We delight in our commonality. And exclaim our new-found discovery:

Everyone likes to be in-the-know.

Her eyes focus on the remaining piece of spiced pumpkin pastry as she whispers into the void:

“So that’s why faith is so hard.”

My head instinctively begins to agree when suddenly I hear His whisper. I set the mug down to make sure I don’t miss anything and she looks up to interpret my reaction.

I do my best to let her know I agree. Faith is hard. To trust in the unseen is beyond normal. Even Jesus knew this would be a challenge.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29

But I wonder if we make it harder than it needs to be. And I wonder if His whisper to me is more than we need.

Friends, we are in-the-know.

We know He loves us enough to give everything He had away. (John 3:16)
We know He died for us to give us a new life.
We know He’d do it all again.

We know this world is a battlefield — and we know who wins. (I Corinthians 15)
We know He’s coming again to claim His prize.
We know our name can be written into eternity.

He didn’t leave us here clueless, He gave us a manual.
He didn’t leave us alone, He gave us a guide. (Romans 5:5)
He doesn’t expect us to fight alone, He gave us each other.

And I wonder…

Maybe faith is believing the ‘why’ has been answered every time.

Maybe the answer to “Why?” is always simply:

Because He loves us.

And if He tells me why and shows me how every day…May I never forget.

How about you, friend? Are you in-the-know? I’d love to hear.

31 Responses to Because He Loves Us
  1. Tobi
    November 6, 2012 | 12:21 am

    I think we sometimes do make it harder then it is.. all comes down to trust I suppose. 🙂 Thanks Nikki for sharing your heart.

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 2:50 pm

      Thank you for reading my heart, Tobi! I think you’re right…it all comes down to trust…giving Him my all.

      Love and hugs to you, friend!

      • MaryA
        November 6, 2012 | 7:05 pm

        I’m 71 with a few health problems. My husband had a quadruple bypass over a year ago.
        All of the trials of aging have drawn me closer and closer to the simplicity of how much He loves me and I love Him. Your story made me weep and weep…a wonderful release of pent up tension. I cannot get enough of reading about His love. He is so precious and dear! Thank you for sharing.

        • Nikki
          November 7, 2012 | 12:17 pm

          Mary, I’m so touched by you sharing with me. Thank you for letting me know how I can pray for you…

          And can I whisper something to you? Oh how He loves you…praying you see all the ways He pursues you today. {HUGS}

  2. Jennifer
    November 6, 2012 | 7:52 am

    Thank you for another great devotion. I too feel that way about believing. My 7 year old son has had a great belief in our lord since the day he could speak. He has had many questions about how and why but has never doubted that he exists and is there for us each and every day. I thank him for my faith and for helping me to find my savior. Who knew that it would be my son who has only been to church 2x in his whole life that would encourage me and guide me in finding my relationship with him. The lord works in mysterious ways.

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 12:21 pm

      Jennifer, I’m so thrilled you shared this so I can rejoice with you! Love how He pursued you through one you hold dear…and am praying your son never loses that childlike faith we all strive for. It is such a gift.

      May you see how our Savior continues to pursue you, Jennifer. Each and every day. Oh how He loves you.

      All for Him with hugs to you,
      Nikki

  3. Laura
    November 6, 2012 | 10:23 am

    All the more reason to dig deep into the Word so we can KNOW and BELIEVE. Thank you for this post — so well written! 🙂

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 12:22 pm

      My thoughts exactly, Laura! I need to be in-the-know. This is definitely a manual worth reading cover to cover!

      Thanks for reading and sharing with me.
      All for Him with hugs to you,
      Nikki

  4. ~Karrilee~
    November 6, 2012 | 10:51 am

    Oh my friend! I love this! I can remember several years back, in the midst of one of my {many} arguments with the Lord where I was once again whining and complaining in ‘prayer’ about how I wanted – no, NEEDED – to know why (insert whatever mystery I was facing at the time!) He ever so gently whispered, “Baby girl – I don’t answer to you! You are not the boss of me… you don’t need to to KNOW… you need to TRUST!” sigh… Graham Cooke says to never ask why. He states that “Why is an invalid question that makes you an invalid when you ask it.” It cripples you… grounds you, waiting for details that honestly may never come! Instead, he says, the two best questions to ask are “What does this mean?” and “What must I do?” These answers will give you direction! Honestly, I have come to learn that there is such freedom in leaning in to the not needing to know, because as you said – what we DO know far outweighs whatever we don’t know at the moment! What we DO know is that He loves us and can be trusted… at all times!
    ~K~

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 2:53 pm

      Love your thoughts here, Karrilee! And I’ll be pondering what Graham Cooke says for awhile–thank you! That makes complete sense to me.

      So thankful we know all we need to know. The rest are trivial details in the grand scheme of grace. Wouldn’t you say? And I’ll trust He’ll reveal to me all that’s necessary. Why clutter up my already crazy mind any further?!?

  5. Laurie
    November 6, 2012 | 10:58 am

    YES! YES!….and YES! He gives us ALL the knowledge via His word to be in-the-know”!

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 2:55 pm

      That says it all, Laurie. Oh how He loves us…enough to keep us informed of all we need to know. What a gift His Word is!

  6. Amy Alves
    November 6, 2012 | 3:02 pm

    Nikki, I think that’s the perfect answer. I am loved. I won’t know everything on this side but knowing the One who does makes all the difference! “Taste and see that the Lord is good, oh’ the joys of those who trust in Him” {Psalm 34:8 NLT} ~ Love, Amy 🙂

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 7:55 pm

      Amen, Amy! See the Lord is good…trust in Him. Thanks for reading my heart, friend! Hugs to you, Nikki

  7. Mandy
    November 6, 2012 | 3:57 pm

    Woot! You did it, girl! Way to go, sweet friend;)

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 7:56 pm

      Thanks for letting me share this with you first, Mandy! So blessed by you!! {{HUGS}}

  8. Shannon
    November 6, 2012 | 5:12 pm

    “Maybe the answer to “Why?” is always simply:

    Because He loves us.” I AM SO WRITING THIS EVERYWHERE!
    I never thought of it that way…and I love it!
    🙂

    • Nikki
      November 7, 2012 | 12:18 pm

      should I mail you some red lipstick to put it on the bathroom mirror? Cuz I’m thinking that’s where I need it…I need to hear it first thing in the morn!

      Thanks for reading my heart, dear friend!

  9. Dolly
    November 6, 2012 | 5:45 pm

    Yes, His love makes it possible to trust even when I don’t know all the details…what a God-incidence as I read Heb. 11:5,6 this morning which talks about how it is impossible to please God without faith…and we need to have faith He exists and He hears us even when we don’ know what He is doing…Thanks, friend 🙂

    • Nikki
      November 6, 2012 | 7:57 pm

      I believe those are the verses I had read before this coffee date, Dolly! Thanks for bringing it around in full circle for me. Yes…oh to trust He’s got this and loves me enough to take care of the details…

  10. Ro elliott
    November 6, 2012 | 11:50 pm

    Oh yes…the answer is…because He love us…and because He calls us friend…He will whisper His ways to us….great post…blessings~

    • Nikki
      November 7, 2012 | 12:19 pm

      Yes! I’m still pondering your write on “friend”. That needs to be added into the mix, Ro. It richens it…

      Thank you for sharing with me!!

  11. Melissa D
    November 7, 2012 | 2:33 pm

    I’m so glad I came across your blog. This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I have been really struggling lately. Things have gotten really rough for us financially lately despite my husband working 6 days a week. He has a new, much better job on the horizon but it seems to be consistently just out of reach. He has it, they just need to “weed out” some others first (a Unionized job and there are other before him to be hired). I have been frustrated and anger lately that it just hasn’t happened yet. I was near to loosing Faith. Then I read this and it convicted me, I cannot go that route of loosing Faith because if I do it (the job) will vanish. I need to TRUST IN HIM that He will give it to us at the exact time we need it the most. As painful as that is to know it is His plan. Thank you for posting this very thing today and you now have a faithful follower.

    • Nikki
      November 8, 2012 | 10:28 am

      Oh Melissa, thank you for sharing with me.

      My heart hurts for yours. There’s no other way to say it: That.Is.HARD. To trust Him when the walls close in…it’s not natural. And yet, in this upside down kingdom it’s exactly what He requires of us.

      Sometimes I think we don’t realize we’re in the refiner’s fire. He is molding us and shaping us to become stronger. Shine brighter. Exposing our weaknesses more so His power and love is revealed.

      I will be praying for you during this time. May you see the ways He pursues you today. May you feel the warm rays of hope on the horizon. And one day may you look back on this time and realize He carried you through. {{HUGS}}

      All for Him with hugs to you,
      Nikki

      • Melissa D
        November 8, 2012 | 12:34 pm

        Thank you Nikki!

        I was lead to this blog. The one today was on par too! He is showing me that He is in control and I need to let it go to Him. I’m feeling better about this whole job deal. He will provide and do it in His time.

  12. Leah
    November 8, 2012 | 3:37 pm

    Yes! Yes!
    Head knowledge getting to heart understanding when it is difficult and disappointing is the key. For myself He has been teaching me over and over again this past year that we miss the key by not being spiritually minded. Distracted by the counterfeit fake glittery stuff of the world.
    I always enjoy what you write. On my journey to be more spiritual minded I am making an effort to read more spiritual blogs.
    Cheers.

    • Nikki
      November 15, 2012 | 1:41 pm

      I’m so thrilled to meet you here, Leah and enjoyed my visit to your place last week! (I just realized I never replied to your comment here! so sorry!)

      Thank you for sharing with me. May you see the ways He pursues you this week!

  13. bluecottonmemory
    November 8, 2012 | 10:04 pm

    I love Him because I know Him – however, I had to first want to know about Him – and as I got to know Him, to love Him and trust Him. You can’t get to know Him if you don’t recognize He is.

    I think I love Him not because He is the Big Guy – God – but because of how He loves me, spends time with me, leaves love letters to me, protects me, answers prayers – and disciplines me to be better, shepherds me to the better places, tells me no when I need it.

    Your post really has me thinking Nikki!

    Wishing you much blessing! Much knowing!

    • Nikki
      November 15, 2012 | 1:40 pm

      I am still soaking in your words!
      I think I love Him for the same reasons…because He showed me what love is and never gives up on me. ..

      Love and hugs to you! thank you for sharing with me.

  14. Christina
    November 17, 2012 | 8:33 am

    I’m like that too, needing to know why. Guess that’s why I went into psychology:) But when it comes to faith, knowing He loves me is all the reason I need. Beautiful words here, Nikki!

    • Nikki
      November 19, 2012 | 4:30 pm

      Thank you, Christina! (and another reason we’re kindred)… ; )

      Yes…He’s all I need today. Because HE loves me!