Love Them Anyways
How did Love Them Anyways get started? After a challenging parenting day, I visited my friend Evea, the school counselor at my work. I desperately needed a change of thinking, as I felt like I was drowning in the burdens of being a divorced single mother. I begin to unload every thought and emotion onto her. She listened and gave me the best advice: “Love them anyway,” she said. I will never forget our conversation. Thus, my blog name was born. I saved those simple but impactful words in my phone and told myself that if I ever write a book or start a blog, that would be the name.
God was already working on changing my heart towards those who caused me wounds, pain, and hardships. God was cultivating me and uprooting deep lies. He had bigger plans to show me what it means to love people anyway. (Matthew 5:43-44 NIV) states: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. God was pruning me and molding me to understand forgiveness and the love of Jesus.
God would use the worst pain in my life to propel me into my purpose. Loving my enemies and understanding forgiveness only came when God put me in a position where I constantly had to show grace and mercy to the people who wounded me the most. How do we pray and bless our transgressors? How can we have unconditional and sacrificial love for the ones who caused us suffering and pain? The pruning process was painful, and I was being purified. (Proverbs 17:3 TPT) states, “In the same way that gold and silver are refined by fire, the Lord purifies your heart by the tests and trials of life.” These tests and trials had me on my knees, begging God to take it from me, but he did not. I am so thankful for the unanswered prayers because God, the author and creator of love, would show me what real love is.
God encouraged me to look beyond the offense. He helped me recognize my sinfulness and the original sin we all inherited from Adam and Eve. When we truly understand the Gospel and the sacrifice of Jesus, our hearts begin to soften. This transformation enables us to model how Jesus loves others unconditionally and selflessly.
Jesus can heal our wounds, burdens, and offenses. One of my favorite verses is (Matthew 1:28-29 NIV); Jesus tells us to “come to him, all who are weary and burdened, and that he will give us rest. To place His yoke upon us so we can learn from him because He is humble and gentle, and we will find rest for our souls”. Only through Jesus can we find complete rest.
I remember looking at my former “enemies” and God telling me, “I was once his enemy,” BUT God forgave me unconditionally and sacrificially.” I was overwhelmed with forgiveness. Two and a half years ago, at my darkest hour of suffering, God removed the scales that had blinded me for years. He showed me my sin and what was separating our relationship. I was crushed by the weight of my sin, knowing how far away I was from God. I saw and realized that everything I believed was a lie. I instantly saw all my failures and mistakes, which was overwhelming. I knew if their eyes were opened, as mine had been, they would feel crushed, too. My heart was filled with compassion and love; I only wanted to pray for them to know there is hope, healing, and freedom in Jesus Christ.
God reminded me of my purpose, mission, and why he created me. Why am I here? Why are we called to suffer? We are called to be servants of the Lord, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ. We, as believers, are called to guide the lost into the light so they may become servants of the Lord and continue that cycle of redemption. Redemption for me is a changed heart, mine and others. I would rather see the people who wounded me come to Jesus in true repentance and feel the love, forgiveness, and peace that only Jesus can give them. Do not miss the opportunity to learn wisdom from Jesus during your suffering. Jesus knows the gift of forgiveness and what it brings to you and others. It brings freedom, hope, and more love to this world. It brings more surrendered hearts to Him.
We are called to suffer because Christ himself was crushed for our debt. (Isaiah 53:5-8 KJV) states: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep, before her shearers are dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken”.
The crushing that I felt of knowing my sin was less than a microscopic speck compared to the crushing of all our sins onto Jesus. Jesus took our sin; he not only took it, but he knew at that moment he would be separated from God, yet he still chose to sacrifice himself for us. How can we even “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”? (Ephesians 3:18 NIV)
I want to encourage everyone that your suffering, tribulation, or challenging circumstances can be part of God’s bigger purpose and plan for your life. I want to help guide your eyes to focus on Jesus when your faith is wavering. God can renew and transform our minds (Romans 12:2 NIV) to look at the world, trials, and people differently. God redeemed me from an unbeliever to a strong woman of God, birthed through suffering. There is always a purpose to our pain, and God catches and remembers every tear. (Psalm 56:8 NLT) Jesus died so that we could be saved from our sins and be reconciled to God the Father. Jesus wants us to be free from the burden of legalism, striving, resentment, anger, depression, counterfeit love, addictions, wounds, lies, and unforgiveness towards others and ourselves.
God’s love can do anything.
God can change a situation where you love your enemy and wash their feet. He can transform your mind so that you feel love towards the one you said you could never forgive or the situation that caused you great pain. He can renew your mind so that you feel overwhelming love and genuinely care about the souls of those who were once your enemies and their relationship with God. Only God can change your heart so that you praise him for the worst pain in your life—only the power of Jesus. (Galatians 5:1 NIV) states, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”.
Although we will struggle with our spirit fighting against our flesh and sinfulness, do not return to the bondage from which God has already set you free. We also have an enemy, Satan, who will try to keep you stuck or tied down in condemnation, shame, and guilt. He will try to stop you from experiencing God’s everlasting love. Stand firm in your faith and remember (John 16:33 NIV): “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Let Jesus minister to you the eternal love he has for you; come back to him and be refreshed by His Word. Remember the cross; remember the hope, truth, and freedom that Jesus has given us. Remember his ultimate sacrifice. (Mark 10:45 NIV) says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In my opinion, forgiveness is the foundation of the gospel. Without God’s forgiveness, we would not have Jesus to bridge the gap that separates us from God. We would not have the opportunity to be with God in heaven one day.
Forgiveness is everything.
Challenge yourself to rest and listen to God through the insights He has graced me with to help restore your spirit. Your suffering could be your unique calling and purpose that God predestined you for. “Through our union with Christ, we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny, that we would fulfill the plan of God, who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart.” (Ephesians 1:11 TPT)
I pray this blog blesses you with God’s freedom, hope, and peace in this sinful world.
-Athena
Scriptures and Links Below:
- Matthew 5:43-44 NIV
- Proverbs 17:3 TPT
- Ephesians 1:6-8 ESV
- Matthew 1:28-29 NIV
- Isaiah 53:5-8 KJV
- Ephesians 3:18 NIV
- Romans 12:2 NIV
- Psalm 56:8 NLT
- Galatians 5:1 NIV
- John 16:33 NIV
- Mark 10:45 NIV
- Ephesians 1:11 TPT