God Loves You!

This post is longer--I apologize for that! But times are hard for everyone right now, and it's easy to forget that God is with us and loves us. 

If you're going through a hard time or the dark night of the soul, read on. I hope you receive some comfort from this post. Things will get better! 

How Do I Know God Loves Me?

When you’re grappling with the challenges of daily life, it can be a struggle to remember that God loves you. It’s especially hard to remember He loves you when things are tough. Maybe you’re going through a divorce, job loss, or another traumatic experience. Those times are worse than rough—they can tear you apart. I've been there. When you feel tossed and torn, God’s love feels distant or non-existent, and we wonder why. Why doesn’t He intervene in our struggles? Where is His love in those moments?

As humans, we often struggle to comprehend God’s ways. It’s understandable we aren’t able to fathom God or His ways. We have a limited perspective (as humans) compared to His infinite wisdom. But why are there times we can’t seem to feel His love, even when we know it's there?

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV

What Keeps Us from Feeling God’s Love?

Sometimes, it’s hard to determine why we can’t feel God’s love. Maybe it’s a lack of faith (unbelief), sin, or hardening our hearts against the Lord. The things we’re experiencing may cause us to feel far from God. After all, we’re only human.  

A hard heart, sin, or lack of faith doesn’t have to last forever. They may develop when we’re struggling with complicated issues or circumstances. It’s a part of being human.

There will also be times when we feel far from God for a different reason. God sometimes “withdraws” from our feelings. This can be pretty scary, but it’s part of the faith journey. God is always with us, whether we can feel His love or not. I don’t know how to explain it, but God sometimes wants us to rely on our faith in Him rather than our feelings and emotions.

Think back to the time you were first aware of God’s presence. The feelings and emotions you experienced were pretty overwhelming! It’s like being in love for the first time! As time went on, you became used to His daily presence. This first-love experience can last for days, weeks, months, or longer. But one day, you may wake up feeling different. At first, you’re not sure what it is, but then you realize you don’t feel the Lord’s presence like before.

This is normal. God “veils his face” for a time to help us rely on our faith rather than the heady emotions of love. He also does this to help us learn to appreciate His presence. The time of “distancing” also shows us how weak we are. We become humble and realize we are entirely dependent on God alone. These times also remind us of the gift of salvation we’ve received from our Lord.

Some saints of the church (like St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and others) have written about the “dark night of the soul.” That aptly describes these times of distancing. You may feel like you’re in the dark again (like life was before God), but He is near you and loves you still. This is what you and I need to remember during these times.

The "dark night of the soul" may last a short or long time--that's completely up to the Lord. But it will eventually pass. 

One more thing—when God removes the “veil,” He will come like the dawn and spring rains, as it says in Hosea 6:3: “Let us know. Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the later and former rain to the earth.” The time of darkness and distance will last for a time, but it will pass, and you’ll be in sweet communion with our Lord once again.

The key during these times is to keep your faith in the Lord. Remember, God loves you and is still with you.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV

Read 2 Corinthians 3:4-18—it speaks of trusting God through Christ and much more.

How to Know God Loves You?

If you’re having a hard time knowing that God loves you, here are some things you can try to reconnect with Him:

Remember a Time the Lord Helped You in the Past

Do you remember a time when God helped you? Think about that time. What were you going through? How did God show His love in that instance?

It can be difficult to remember all the many times God has helped us. That’s why keeping a prayer journal or gratitude journal can be helpful. When we’re experiencing hard times, we can look back in our journals to when we experienced God’s love and He provided for us.

Even if you’ve not kept a journal, try to recall a time God made His love clear to you. This memory can help you through tough times.

Read the Bible

Reading the Bible is another way to learn and understand that God loves us. When we read about the experiences of others in the Scriptures, we can’t help but know that God loved those people, and He loves us, too.

Here are some scriptures to read about His love for us:

…But you are a god, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.

Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Isaiah 43:1-3 NKJV

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7 NKJV

The Bible tells us that God’s love is real, and we can trust His love every moment. Remember how the Lord showed His love and care for the people of Israel during the Exodus. Even though the people were complaining, mad, and scared, God gave them everything they needed during the journey! While God had to discipline His people, He never stopped loving them.

In the New Testament, there are many examples of God showing His love. One of the most memorable verses in the Gospels is John 3:16 (NKJV), which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” What shows God’s love for us more than this? God sacrificed His Son on the cross so we might live with Him forever!

 So, read the Bible to experience the many examples of God’s love shown throughout the ages. You will find He loves you, too!

Know That God Understands Our Human Condition

Sometimes, we think of God and wonder how He can understand what we’re going through. We forget that He knows what it’s like to be human. Our Father sent Jesus, His Son, to live among us. Jesus was fully human and divine, so God perfectly understands what it’s like to be human.

Jesus was born into the world the same way we are. He experienced being raised by parents; He dealt with siblings and other aspects of our human existence. Jesus was even tempted as we are. You can read about His temptation in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:11-23, and Luke 4:1-14.

Jesus lived like us—as a human being. He learned what human existence is like. Christ is our advocate and savior; He understands our negative thoughts, feelings, and more about our condition. Even so, He still loves us with a never-ending love.

God knows that life as a human is pretty tough. He understands that we may have trouble believing He cares for us, and such thoughts can be overwhelming during times of trouble.

Pray to God

When you don’t feel God’s love or presence, pray to Him and explain your feelings. He will listen to you every time. Don’t be afraid to ask Him if He loves you or to say you’re not sure of His love. Confess this to Him. 

Ask the Lord if there's something standing between you and He. Confess any sins, thoughts, and feelings you may have. You can also ask for God's guidance in showing you what's going on. As you pray, remember to focus on God and elevate your heart and soul to Him.

Prayer is our way of connecting with God. It’s a two-way communication between us and our Lord. We pray to God, and then we must listen for His response.

You may also pray by writing in a prayer journal. Write God a letter about how you feel and ask Him to help you.

God knows your thoughts, so you don’t have to worry about surprising Him. He already knows and understands. Connecting to Him through prayer can help relieve the thoughts that God doesn’t love you.

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139:1-6 NKJV

Rest Assured -- God Loves You

God loves you. He longs to have a relationship with you and each of us. How do we know? Our Lord has repeatedly told us in the Scriptures about His love and longing for each of us. That’s how we know.

Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.

Isaiah 30:18 NKJV

Don’t be afraid of reaching out to God. He is there, waiting for you. In Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV), our Lord says, “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

You can take God at His Word—He will never leave or forsake you. He goes before you and is with you, no matter your circumstances, feelings, or emotions.

For I am persuaded that neither powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

I’ve created a free printable list of Bible verses that remind us of God’s love. You can head over to our Gumroad shop and download the list for free!

God bless,

PS If you'd like to find apps for prayer, Bible study, etc., head over to our Resources page!