Love Never Stops Believing

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It’s these moments that can tug on a mother’s heart until it burns. Yet when it comes to our children, I’ve learned it never stretches far enough to break. It may lose its shape for awhile, but mostly our hearts just grow to fit it all in.

And I see his bottom lip give way to a quiver. His long lashes flutter repeatedly due to the frustration. It takes all I have in me not to scoop his four year-old frame right up and pour on the kind of love that tickles and makes you giggle until you burst into hiccups.

We parents learn another kind of love, though. The kind that is so big it goes hidden from the ones we love most until they are able to look back in hindsight and see its magnitude. Never has there been a greater understatement than that which they call Tough Love.

Fragments are bouncing off his lips now as he tries to put what he’s experiencing into words.

Love surges as I share with him what I see. What I know he is capable of. How far he has grown already and how close he is to getting this next step down. And although the solution may seem simple in my eyes looking down, I know exactly what he means.

For how many times have I been on my knees, wailing my failures? How many times have I asked forgiveness from the same offense? How many times have I sought the Lord with tear stained cheeks of regret? How many times have I doubted I’ll ever get it right?

While talking this over during my prayer time, I recalled a Proverb I had read a few days back.

For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Proverbs 24:16

I scrambled for my Bible to read it again. And as I was trying to recall who sang the song rolling through my head, I heard His whisper:

“I believe in you, beloved.”

Oh friends, sometimes I get so caught up in my unbelief. I get so wrapped up in my faith that I forget…God believes in you and me.

  • He believes we can get up again when we fall. (Proverbs 24:16)
  • He believes we’ll have trouble, but will overcome with Him in the end. (John 16:33)
  • He believes we were worth the price He paid for us. (John 3:16)

Maybe that’s simply what love looks like. Maybe love is the glue that holds our fragmented pieces together, allowing grace to polish us clean. Maybe love is drive that keeps us going. Because:

  • Love never gives up.
  • Love never loses hope.
  • Love never regrets failures.
  • For love never does. (I Cor. 13)

Oh how He loves us.

Friend, God believes in you. He does.

If we were together right now, I’d have you look into the mirror and say that out loud until it sunk in.

God believes in you because He loves you.

And I don’t know about you, but that’s enough for me.

How about you, friend? What motivates you to keep going? What do you do when you fall? I’d love to hear.

28 Responses to Love Never Stops Believing
  1. Vicki
    February 5, 2013 | 10:59 am

    Nikki, This brings tears to my eyes. How blind we are some times? Just last night I was giving my 9 year old son this exact talk. I believe in him, God believes in Him. He can do this!

    Why is it so easy to believe this for others and yet so hard to accept it for ourselves? I may just go home and do exactly as you suggested and repeat it in the mirror until it sinks in.

    Blessings to you!
    Vicki

    • Nikki
      February 5, 2013 | 1:49 pm

      Vicki, thank you for sharing with me! I’d be thrilled if you would say it until you can claim it! I must confess to you, I had to do the same thing and girl, it took awhile. But so worth it. Oh how He loves us! {HUGS}

  2. Missy
    February 5, 2013 | 12:18 pm

    Oh Nikki, I absolutely love this! And here is why: I’ve been reading lately how the original Greek of the famous Love is… verses starts with charity is long-suffering. That is now translated, culturally, nowadays, as love is patient. And that, my friend, it’s exactly what sees me through my failures and those lip-quivering moments of me trying to figure out the next right step. God loves me- therefore he is patient. Thank you, Lord! Beautiful words, Nikki.

    • Nikki
      February 5, 2013 | 1:51 pm

      Oh my, Missy…charity is long-suffering. how rich! Thank you for sharing that with me. I’m going to ponder that awhile…thank you!
      Love and hugs to you, friend!

  3. Mandy
    February 5, 2013 | 12:52 pm

    Amen. How many times I need this reminder…so often. Thanks, Nikki!

    • Nikki
      February 5, 2013 | 1:52 pm

      You and me both, kindred sister…so often.
      Love and hugs to you, Mandy!

  4. Rosann
    February 5, 2013 | 5:57 pm

    So beautiful Nikki! When I fall, I always feel the emotion from it. Then I look up to the One who tells me continually to trust Him. And I get up and push forward.

    • Nikki
      February 5, 2013 | 10:39 pm

      You do this so well, Rosann. Look what He’s brought you through! Such a testimony to His loving, guiding hand…. Thanks for sharing with me, friend! {HUGS}

  5. Alyssa Santos
    February 5, 2013 | 10:54 pm

    Nikki — such transformational truth.
    I have a dear sister who has been to the darkest, deepest pit of depression these past six months. A depth I’ve never seen. The power of this truth you’ve shared has been my song to her over texts, phone calls, in the hospital, in her home, on her bed with my arms around her. I think the enemy is so cruel and relentless as he steals us blind of this identity we have in Jesus. But when we do battle with the truth in our hands and hearts and and mouths, we will win. bless you, friend.

    • Nikki
      February 6, 2013 | 3:44 pm

      What a good friend you are, Alyssa, to wrap your arms around your suffering sister. Thank you for showing her glimpses of Jesus. So thankful for His promise that yes, we’ll have trouble…BUT…He’s overcome. He’s worth clinging to, isn’t He.
      Hugs to you, Alyssa! Thanks for stopping by and sharing with me. I hope you don’t mind if I pray for your dear sister!

  6. ~Karrilee~
    February 5, 2013 | 11:25 pm

    I love this my friend! Sometimes love is tough… but it always wins out! It’s always the best choice… I remember not long ago telling my girlie (who is nearly grown) that we will always fight for her – but she needs to fight for herself! Ah the pangs of growing and learning, and failing, and being brave anyway to try again! He believes in you… He is All In! I just keep going back to that phrasing that He whispered to my pounding heart last month!

    • Nikki
      February 6, 2013 | 3:47 pm

      YES! Love always wins…because love is all in. And He is love…He Is.
      So blessed by you friend! I hope others click on over and read what He whispered to you recently! sooooo good… <3

  7. Dolly
    February 6, 2013 | 1:21 am

    Just what I needed, my friend…Thank you 🙂 love and hugs to you 🙂

    • Nikki
      February 6, 2013 | 3:47 pm

      Thank you, Dolly. Praying for you! Love and hugs to you 🙂

  8. Dawn
    February 6, 2013 | 9:45 pm

    Oh, Nikki- it’s so hard at times…I am so grateful that His Word does uphold me. I would not be able to stand or rise without His Word, Faith and Grace…thanks and I love the verse from Proverbs. He keeps me rising…even when I think I can’t get back up- He makes me to stand.

    • Nikki
      February 7, 2013 | 12:31 pm

      It IS hard, Dawn! I’m starting to discover it doesn’t have to be hard, we just make it that way as we get busy looking around this world that’s not our Home ::SIGH:: Together, we can get this. We can stand tall on His solid ground and just know. There’s no other place we’d rather be… {HUGS}

  9. Anna
    February 6, 2013 | 10:50 pm

    Needed to hear this today. Beautifully written. Thanks!

    • Nikki
      February 7, 2013 | 12:32 pm

      Thank you so much, Anna! We’re a lot alike for I need to hear this often {HUGS}

  10. Susie Cantrell
    February 7, 2013 | 9:35 am

    Hi Nikki,

    Great Reminder! I love this 5 minutes of Faith blog & glad to see you here.

    *Thank you for sharing your sweet-heart to enCourage and inspire me {& many}! I Believe in you too.

    {hug} Love Ya, Susie 🙂

    • Nikki
      February 7, 2013 | 12:33 pm

      I’m glad to see YOU here, Susie! Thank you, friend. You enCourage me constantly and I am so grateful for you! {HUGS}
      All for Him with hugs to you,
      Nikki

  11. Christina
    February 7, 2013 | 2:58 pm

    We are worth the price He paid. Oh what love! And how often I forget that Love. Thank you for this precious reminder!

    • Nikki
      February 8, 2013 | 11:38 pm

      It’s hard to fathom, isn’t it, Christina? That He doesn’t regret what He did…for me? May we never get over it! Thanks for sharing the day with me, friend!

  12. WICK
    February 7, 2013 | 4:34 pm

    It’s humbling for sure. I love the words of Jesus that those who follow Him will do even greater things. We’ve been given the Spirit to enable us to live as New Creations together today – spreading the Kingdom and bringing transformation only God’s Love can bring. Humblecouragement, I believe it’s called. 🙂

    • Nikki
      February 8, 2013 | 11:40 pm

      Humbleencouragement. I like that, Wick! Thank you! That’s easy to forget..or should I say ignore–that we can do even greater things. Praying I keep my eyes wide and my dancing shoes on–I’m ready! 🙂

  13. Arcelia
    February 8, 2013 | 12:06 am

    Thank you for this encouragement and reminder…I’m in a bit of a trial right now with my 5 year old daughter and I’m praying and crying out to God to help me keep my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and to love her the way He loves me–unconditionally. May i remember we have a High Priest that can sympathize with our weaknesses and I must ‘deal gently’ with her…what a calling to be a parent, I’m thankful. I am on my knees.

    • Nikki
      February 8, 2013 | 11:42 pm

      Oh Arcelia. Thank you for sharing with me…hope you don’t mind if I pray for you. That God will be your guide. May you hear the Spirit whisper guidance and may Jesus’ love overwhelm. {HUGS}

      Oh what God can do through you!

  14. Joy Wombles
    February 9, 2013 | 11:13 am

    Sometimes that is the best wisdom we can give to our children, “I believe in you” Just knowing that God believes in us and is going to help us is such a comfort when the going gets rough. Beautiful post. Thank you for the reminder.
    Joy

    • Nikki
      February 21, 2013 | 9:23 am

      I thought I responded to this–I’m so sorry, Joy! Thank you for reading, friend. I need to be reminded of this often…love and hugs to you!