Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. –1 John 4:8

Whether you grew up in church or have no Christian background, I think all of us have heard that “God is love.” But what does that really mean?  What is love? What is the love that God provides?

If you are interested in just getting a snapshot of God’s love for you, check out this short video called Love Letter From God.

One of the most loving ways I have felt God’s presence is the fact that he feels my pain and knows all my struggles. “You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book” (Psalm 56:8 MSG).  I have faced some intense moments of loneliness and confusion, but knowing that God not only knows me completely (Psalm 139:1), but has felt those emotions with me, gives me a sense of comfort that no human being on this earth could give me.

This post could go on forever just explaining and giving all the verses that exemplify God’s love. But you should know that God’s love for us is infinite.  He knows every intimate detail of you, even the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7).  How crazy is that?? We will never truly understand how much he really cares for us in this life.  God wasn’t bored or created us for companionship.  He was completely satisfied and content before we were even conceived.  However, God created us because he wanted to love us, even though he knew we would rebel against him.  The greatest act of love that God did for us was sending his son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could restore our relationship with Him and go to heaven.  More on that later though…

However, some of you may be asking how God could be so loving when there is so much suffering in this world. Unfortunately, I don’t have an easy answer for that.  One thing that is for certain though, is that God does not cause suffering.  Suffering is the result of sin, which came into the world when man disobeyed God (but again more on that later).  God may allow suffering for a purpose but sometimes we will never know what those purposes are in this life.  And if we trust God with our life, God will use all of our suffering for good, as, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

For more insight into this, check out this video by Francis Chan.  His mom died giving childbirth to him, his stepmom died when he was 8 and then when he was 12, his Dad died of cancer. However, instead of getting angry at God, he began to seek Him and know him because of his suffering in his childhood. In the video he says how he is grateful for all that he’s been through because of how it’s matured him and brought him closer to God.