In this confusing and amazing life, there lies a truth that eludes us too often- love. Not just love, but the ability to truly accept love. We don’t know how to do that, at least not deep inside of our souls.

Accepting love means accepting what might happen if it ends. What are we going to do when God stops loving us? That’s a hard sentence to write, but maybe it reflects how you feel sometimes. Accepting God’s love is not really about Him; it’s about us. His love is eternal, abounding, lavishing. The problem is on our side. It is a paradoxical dance, for to fully embrace God’s love, we must first shed the protective barriers that shield our hearts. We must allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

You see, God has already made the ultimate sacrifice for us. His love knows no bounds and extends far beyond human comprehension. Why do we continue living as orphans when we join His heavenly family? He calls us a child of God, but we act like we have no Father.

We must make a conscious choice – a choice to accept this boundless love that awaits us with open arms. We must acknowledge its presence and recognize that God’s mark has already been imprinted upon us. It is through this acceptance of divine love that we can begin to fathom the depths of our true identities as children of God.

There may come moments when we question God’s love amidst his response to sin. Picture a grand stage bathed in an illuminating spotlight – its brilliance shining down on the lead actor, basking in it. However, this light is a fixed one. It doesn’t follow mistakes. It stays in one spot.

Imagine then, that as soon as the performer strays from their designated mark, they are engulfed in darkness. The light remains, ever-present and unwavering, but it is the performer who has distanced themselves from its radiance. It is in these moments of separation that we must recall which one of us moved– an unwavering God or a very faulty follower? Maybe that’s a negative thought to have, but the focus should never be on the darkness. It should be on the remaining light.

We can indeed deal with a dose of negativity every now and then to help us humble ourselves, but we must not forget the love and empowerment of our Father. Our humility will mean nothing if we forget about the love of God. We can succumb to self-doubt and despair. We can consider ourselves a replaceable worm. We can do all these things in the name of our faith. None of us should be too high and mighty. But consider this:

We must not lower ourselves so much that we forget that God raised us up.

Let us not forget that our humility holds no value if we lose sight of the love of God. We can’t always focus on the darkness. Sure, it’s what we deserve, and it’s important to remember that. However, I sometimes wonder if God is looking at us, thinking, “Please just focus on me!”

We can talk about the darkness and how low we should be, but the light is still there. The spotlight is bright. It’s shining brightly, as it always is. We need only choose to step into its glorious illumination. We must wholeheartedly accept God as our Father and allow Him to claim His rightful title. No more living like orphans, struggling to accept His love. We belong to God. It’s time to act like it. It’s time to accept His love.