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THE PAIN OF UNREQUITED LOVE
A guest post by Chris Lunsford
At some point in our lives, all of us have felt the sting and subsequent ache of loving someone who does not love us. From the desire for lasting friendship to the most extreme commitment and passionate joining, the potential for disappointment is present.
In retrospect, it’s easy to label “puppy love” as growing pains or a phase. If it were possible to interview our preadolescent form, we would conclude that the love was all too real to the “puppy”. The pain of separation was real as well.
The adolescent years are filled with a greater sense of wonder because we know there are more possibilities. It’s also a time when you can find yourself the “flavor of the month” but not the year.
Most young adults are wiser and more confident in their endeavors. The reality of a long term commitment looms larger. Conversely, those with bad intentions have sharpened their skills.
There are many stages in life. There are also many layers within those stages. Greater still, there is one constant; we want to give and receive love. When we are unable to perform at least one of these, we are both stifled and hollow.
Imagine the weight of loving someone their entire life and it goes unnoticed or worse – the love is taken for granted. Jehovah need not imagine it, it is, for Him, normative.
This is not an admonishment for us to love God. It is, however, an impassioned plea to accept the love that our heavenly father has for us.
He will never cheat or scandalize or judge. He won’t leave us. He doesn’t play games. He continues to love even when we deem ourselves unlovable. We may not like all that he allows in our life. We may not like what He commands us to do but His intent is always our growth. We can never love our Lord more than He loves us.
He gives us sun. He sends the rain. The air we breath is from Him. We began in Him.
He has carried us. He will comfort us.
Accept that He loves you. Acknowledge that you have a destiny in Him. Receive until it overflows.
“It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” Hosea 11:3-4
“The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
