Stubborn Love *

I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.
Jeremiah 31:3 The Amplified Bible

Sometimes for me, I lose sight of how God can continue to love me in spite of myself; all the times I've failed Him, my sin. Do you ever struggle with that? For the last few days, I have awakened with a chorus of the same song swirling in my spirit.

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of me
I don't understand how You can stay
Perfect love embracing the worst in me
How I long for Your stubborn love

It's a song that Kathy Troccoli recorded in the early 80s titled Stubborn Love (NOT to be confused with a song of the same title by The Lumineers). Just the chorus over and over. And I realize that it is the Lord trying to teach me yet again that it's not about what I do that's important. What IS important IS His love and His grace and His mercy. That is not to say my choices in how I live aren't important - they are - but without Him, I have no hope of making the right choices for those with eternal consequences.

I couldn't remember the rest of the song, so after 4 days, I finally took the time to look up the lyrics, written by a handful of people (Brown Bannister, Sloan Towner, Michael W. Smith, Gary Chapman, and Amy Grant). I have included them here because they are encouraging to anyone who has struggled along the way.

Caught again, Your faithless friend. Don't You ever tire of hearing what a fool I've been? Guess I should pray but what can I say? Oh, it hurts to know the hundred times I've caused You pain Though 'Forgive me' sounds so empty when I never change Yet You stay and say, "I love you still"Forgiving me time and time again

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of meI don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me How I long for Your stubborn love


Funny me, just couldn't see Even long before I knew You, You were loving me Sometimes I cry, You must cry too When You see the broken promises I've made to YouI keep saying that I'll trust You though I seldom do Yet You stay and say, "You love me still"Knowing someday I'll be like You


And Your stubborn love, it never lets go of meI don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me How I long for Your stubborn love


It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of me I don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me And You never let me go, I believe I finally know I can't live without Your stubborn love.


Prayer:


Father,
Thank You for loving us with a stubborn love that never lets go of us. Please forgive us for all the times we've failed You or let You down. It is only in You that we become a new creation. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen