Love. It is the greatest gift God offers us, and yet it is the one we have the most difficulty receiving. Why? First of all, we do not think we deserve His love, which is true. Secondly, we do not understand itwe cannot compare the quality of His love with our own. We somehow want to believe  that He loves us the way we love others. However, such a viewpoint leaves us doubtful that He will always love us as the Bible promises.

    Love is a commitment to the satisfaction, peace, security, joy, and development of another person. God's love is not based on emotion, as human love often is; it is based on His character. The Bible tells us that God is love. (1 John 4:8) Since it is impossible for Him to do anything contrary to His nature, His love is certain and dependable.

    In addition, His love is a gift. James 1:17teaches, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." In other words, God's love is unchanging and independent of our feelings about deserving it. We cannot earn it or give anything in return for itGod's gift is something He offers freely.

    Furthermore, the love of our heavenly Father is perfect. God is the absolute perfection of every aspect of His character. For example, His power is perfect power, just as His knowledge is perfect knowledge. Every one of His attributes is the peak of perfection and cannot be improved to any degree. Since His love is perfect, we know it will certainly be for our benefit. He will always treat each of us in accordance with His love.

    I can remember a time when I was really struggling with a circumstance in my life. One particular morning, I was so overwhelmed that I knelt by the bed and poured out my heart to God, asking Him, "Why don't You just get on with this?" I had become impatient, as we all do on occasion. And then it was as if God whispered to me, "You can trust perfect love." All of a sudden, my burden left, my frustration disappeared, and my anxiety vanished.

    My understanding of God's love took a big step forward that day. It was suddenly clear that His love is trustworthy in any and every situation of life. Whatever you are facing, no matter what you are feeling, God is loving you . . . perfectly.