A Love That Stays - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 28, 2026

Audio By Carbonatix

“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’” Hebrews 12:5-6 (NIV)

Love is much different than my fourteen-year-old expectations, and praise the Lord for that! Even in my teens, though I didn’t consider myself a hopeless romantic, my perception of such a sacrificial word was frayed by two tout, deceptive strings: one of a legalistic church and Christian school that made love seem, honestly, miserable, and one of the Twilight phase where two dashing men with magical abilities were supposed to fight (the bad) vampires to vie for my unending affection. 

It’s no wonder the first man I fell in love with left me far more than frayed. Not only did I not love well, as is the way with most nineteen-year-old, naive church girls, but I didn’t know how to examine his love (or lack thereof). In my ignorant world, love was meant to be magnetizing, doused with sweet gifts and built biceps and feelings I couldn’t put into words. Thus, love, per my definition, failed drastically when his lies, manipulation, and psychological abuse swept in. 

I met my now-husband a few months after my first romance crashed and burned, and things didn’t begin like I wanted. Love didn’t sweep me off my feet. It wasn’t laden with romantic gifts… the first Christmas gift my now-husband gave to me was a case of Lipton green teas. Need I say more? 

Love was slow, subtle, almost scary, and precisely what I needed. It was love because it stayed. It was long-suffering, patient, and determined. It stayed when my undiagnosed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder reached a debilitating state. It stayed when my lack of a writing career promised little financial clout. It stayed when I was upset that love told me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. 

Love that lasts is refining, friends. The moment we believe anything different, we are bound to have our romantic dreams dashed. Love whispers, “No, you apologize first.” Love commands, “Even if he was wrong, you show up for him.” Love isn’t abuse, of course, but love lingers when two sinners are contending with one another and feel both sanity and serenity are at their wits’ end. 

What I find so endearing about God’s love is that it stays. Love is a Spirit-induced verb that wrestles with us when we are at our worst, unwilling to let go of our rebellious hands. This force is a gentle one, though; its relentless character isn’t rooted in control or tyranny, but in protection. God’s love always says, “I’ll forgive first. Even if they never apologize. Even if they didn’t deserve it.” It always says what we need to hear because our heart’s best interest is more important to God than His popularity with us. 

In my life, His love has rarely been a whirlwind but a whisper, the sort of whisper that still shakes the ground, awakens my soul to heaven on earth, and pulls me from my selfish slumber. 

God’s quiet, reckless love lasts, and in a world where too many things come and go for the sake of self, I’m grateful for a love that isn’t always easy but is forever sure. 

I’m well-aware of how easily my love is swayed, tempted, and limited, so in my sinful ignorance, I gladly welcome a love that challenges everything I am to become all God has made me to be. 

Chase the love that lasts, friends. Let the rest fall by the wayside. 

Let’s pray:

Lord, thank you for a long-suffering love, always willing to strive alongside fickle men. Since the beginning of time, you’ve known that you would draw the short end of the stick in your relationship with each of us. Yet, you joyfully show up, day in and out, to cry and laugh with us, to challenge us, because you want what’s best for us. When we are chasing a love that isn’t true, grant us your discernment. 

Furthermore, grant us the bravery to walk away from what we think we want so we can prepare our hearts for what we need. We praise you for your faithful love that will withstand the test of time and carry us into eternity. With prideful, messy hearts, we love you, Lord. Thank you for accepting our imperfect attempts at your great Love. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

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