“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

Remember playing with Play-Doh when you were young? When my kids were little, I loved seeing the creations they would come up with. The Play-Doh became houses. Caterpillars. Food. Animals.

No matter how hard I tried, I could never keep my kids from mixing the colors together. Each container I opened was a multicolor piece of art in itself. There was no longer blue. Or red. Or green. There was just the combination of all of them together.

Can you see it?

Once the Play-Doh got to that point, imagine if I had asked my children to separate those colors again. It would be impossible, right?

That’s what the love of God is like.

I love the verse in Romans I shared above. Think about this truth: Nothing can “separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Just like the Play-Doh colors become inseparable, so is God’s love in and on our life.

You see, separation hurts. It’s hard to say goodbye when a loved one moves away. It cuts deep when friends turn their back and leave you alone. When we’re apart, our hearts can’t wait to be together with our loved ones again. 

Separation is scary, too. You feel lost. You wonder who will protect you and help you find your way? We never want to disconnect from the ones who care for and love us most.

Jesus knows the pain of separation. When He went to the cross, He took the sins of the world on Himself. In that moment, sin separated Him from His holy, heavenly Father. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) Jesus bore the torture of separation so we could be united with God forever. We’re adopted as His children when we believe and trust in His love.  

God’s love follows you wherever you go. Nothing you do can make Him love you less. God’s love is in you and always will be.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I want to encourage you to focus on the love above all other loves. The love of God is what fills our cup to be able to love others in our life well. Our kids. Our spouse. Our friends. Our neighbors and coworkers. We can model it to provide others with a small glimpse at the unending, unshakable, inseparable love that Christ made possible for us.

Here are 4 truths about God’s love that I want to remind you of today:

God’s love is unending.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

There is no end to God’s love for us. It stretches to every corner of our lives. It knows no bounds. There is nothing we can do to be “past” HIs love and grace.

God’s love is consistent.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord.” – Isaiah 54:10

God’s love never stops. It is always there. No matter what’s happening in our life. No matter what’s happening in the world. God is there, He sees you, and He supports you.

God’s love is for you.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

God’s love is for YOU. Why? Because He desires for you to have a life eternally spent with Him. That offer is available to all who believe in Him.

God’s love invites us to grow.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

God’s love doesn’t leave us the same as it found us. He leads us down the best path, and calls us to change our heart, desires, and behaviors. He invites us to grow into Him, abiding in Him.

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This Valentine’s Day, let’s focus on the One who loves us with an eternal love. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Is His love be the source for how you show up in your relationships each and every day?

Lord, may we trust in your love that holds us forever. Amen.