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How to Believe God Loves You When Life Gets Hard

January 31, 2022 by betsydecruz 8 Comments

If you struggle to believe God loves you when life gets hard, here's encouragement and 2 steps to growing faith and hope.

“Does God really love me?” I remember the first time I truly doubted God’s love. I was sitting on the doctor’s examination table and got a diagnosis that made me think I might spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. How could I believe God loved me when this was happening?

God’s love is often the first thing we doubt when life takes a wrong turn. We wonder, “Is God really good? Why is He letting this happen?”

Maybe you’ve asked these same questions in the hospital, clinic, or therapist’s office. You asked after the call from your child’s school or the meeting with your boss.  Maybe you feel like such a mess that you find it impossible to believe God loves you.

When life gets hard is when we most need to hold on to God’s love for us.

I didn’t actually end up needing a wheelchair, but I learned important lessons about holding fast to the love of God. In times of trial, the most important thing we need to believe about ourselves is that we are the beloved children of our Heavenly Father.

God’s love is the compass that helps us navigate hard times. It’s the anchor holding us and the blanket that covers us.  It’s the filter that helps us see our trials in a brighter light.

Yet we have an enemy who desperately wants to blind us to God’s love. The one thing Satan does not want us to know is that God loves us so much He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins so that we could have everlasting life.

What if we really grasped God’s amazing love that paid a great price for our sins at the cross, all to win us back to himself? What if we really understood that Jesus’ death means God looks upon us as beloved children?

We’d be stronger. We’d know His love surrounds us at all times and in every situation. We’d know we could trust Him.

How do we hold fast to God’s love when life gets hard?

We can pray for grace to believe and receive it.

The power of the Holy Spirit is the only force that can truly convince us of our Father’s love, yet we can partner with Him through prayer. These words may help, but you can also find your own:

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to give your life for me. Holy Spirit, fill my heart with the love of God; help me to truly believe and receive it. Heavenly Father, help me to rest in the shelter of your great love. Give me the grace I need to reflect your love to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We can stay present to God’s love by meditating on the Scriptures.

As we behold truth from the Word, we become better equipped to recognize the enemy’s lies. Lies like “If God really loved you, this would not be happening” or “God couldn’t possibly love you the way you are.”

Anchor your thoughts to God’s truth through meditating often on God’s love. Here are 3 passages to start with. Read through them slowly and prayerfully, thinking about what these truths mean for your life:

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another…And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:9-11,16, NIV)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 136:1, NASB)

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10, ESV)

Friend, if your challenges have disheartened you, may I encourage you to keep holding on to God’s love? Keep praying for grace to believe the promise of His love. Just for today hold fast to the belief that God treasures you and will see you through. Your challenge will end, but God’s love for you never will.

Now it’s your turn: What gives you hope in hard times? What is one truth here that encourages you today?

NOTE: If you’re new here, you’re missing the free printable, God’s Lovingkindness, that went out with this post to subscribers. To get it, click the image below to subscribe. Hit reply to my welcome email and let me know you’d like to receive it.

Photo by TOMOKO UJI on Unsplash

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Uncategorized Tagged With: Believe God, Encouragement, Faith, God's Love, Receive God's Love, Spiritual Growth

Comments

  1. Connie says

    February 1, 2022 at 8:12 am

    I enjoyed this teaching it made sense, and it really did help me. I’m looking forward to receiving more of God’s truth, love and healing words! Thank you so much and blessings to you!🙏🏽

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      February 1, 2022 at 7:20 pm

      Thanks so much for chiming in here, Connie. May the Lord bless you with an ever-growing sense of His love.

      Reply
  2. Rosie Catie Allan says

    February 1, 2022 at 3:33 pm

    I know God loves me
    I am sad sometimes because my mother abused me as a child and I really want a mum , and dream about having a mum who loves me
    but God loves me and He knows I’m sad sometimes and He comforts me

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      February 1, 2022 at 7:22 pm

      I am so sorry that your own mother abused you, Rosie. That must be so painful. May the Lord continue to work His healing in your life. May the Holy Spirit comfort you like the dearest mother would

      Reply
  3. Rosie Catie Allan says

    February 1, 2022 at 8:10 pm

    Thanks 🙂
    God bless you

    Reply
  4. Anne(Anne Marie) Hall says

    February 4, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    Hi Betsy,

    I was so glad to reconnect. I probably will be rereading your 1/31/22 blog, a number of times. I see you lft FB. I will miss those posts. Hope the New Year is treating you well. I hope that no below freezing weather has effected you. Prayers for you and your family. Please note the email change. Look forward to hearing from you.

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      February 8, 2022 at 7:24 am

      Hi Anne Marie, it’s so good to hear from you! Yes, after I started my refugee ministry job, I decided I just didn’t have time for Facebook, but I am on Instagram. Thanks for your prayers. Saying a prayer for you now.

      Reply
  5. Anne(Anne Marie) Hall says

    February 10, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Hi Betsy,
    Thank you. Some of the situations in this area are difficult for me to understand. Different cultures with different spiritual practices. May Blessings and favor be with you and your family.
    My family calls me Anne Marie. I have gone by Anne since High School. You may have correspondences with another person in the apartment complex I live in. I hope for Yahweh’s will to reign.

    Anne(Anne Marie)

    Reply

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Hello! I’m Betsy.

I believe overwhelmed women can learn to take small steps to experience more of God's presence and power in their lives. When we hear God's voice through His Word, He calms our fears and frees us to receive His peace and joy. Read More…

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Encouraging women to pursue Jesus and live out His purposes. ⬇️I'd love to give you Free Quiet Time Renewal Guide.

Happy Easter! So grateful to celebrate little Leon Happy Easter! So grateful to celebrate little Leon's first Easter with Elijah, Camilla, and the rest of the family ❤️
I'm so grateful God held little Leon in His hands I'm so grateful God held little Leon in His hands and delivered him safely into this world one week ago today!

Camilla and Elijah are doing such a great job as parents already, and we have a cute little cuddlebug to hold and marvel over! Abuelo José is in awe to be able to hold such a little guy! (PSA, last photo is the best!)

I keep marveling over God's faithful care and keep coming back to this verse: "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71:6

#grandbaby #baby #grandmother #thanks
1. When you and your daughter are students at the 1. When you and your daughter are students at the same seminary.  2. And your husband is on staff there!❤️
So excited to begin at @dallasseminary this fall! Diving into Systematic Theology as a first step to my Masters in Christian Education 😍🎉
Such a fun evening last night at Convocation.
Feliz Navidad from the Cruz family! ❤️🎄 We Feliz Navidad from the Cruz family! ❤️🎄

We've enjoyed such a fun and memorable Christmas season. So grateful for family,  loved ones, and for the way Advent cheers our spirits and reminds us of the wonder of Jesus' coming to earth.

#feliznavidad #merrychristmas #advent #joy  #family
I'm so grateful for all the ways God showed up at I'm so grateful for all the ways God showed up at our Women's Christmas Lunch with @northwestbiblewomen . ❤️🎄 This was the biggest party I've ever hosted, totally beyond my capacity. I'm giving God thanks for the amazing people who made it possible:
👉
#2 Cindy Douglas, our Women's Christmas Lunch Coordinator. So gifted.

#3 Our Ninja team who did the work to pull everything off.

#4 Our speakers, @rebeccacarrell  and @beca.inke . So talented. Filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Amazing worship team is not pictured! 😭)

#5 Fabulous table hostesses, who decorated the tables and made women feel welcome.

#6 Men who volunteered to serve, including my own José!

#7 Northwest group life team women, who served as table hostesses and supported me in those moments when I thought I'd lose my mind! 😂

(Not pictured are our lovely greeters and my dear daughter Camilla, who was at my side, one of my best friends. ❤️)

#thanks to all of you! What amazing #teamwork ! ❤️🎄

#joy #christmas #northwestbiblewomen gratitude
Best Thanksgiving ever! So grateful for family and Best Thanksgiving ever! So grateful for family and the blessing of getting to celebrate together. 🍁🦃🍁 (Best surprise ever was when @mcruzpeti walked in the door all the way from Michigan! Apparently everyone in the family knew he was coming except for José and I. ❤️)

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Fortunately, I was not in charge of decorating for Fortunately, I was not in charge of decorating for Sugar and Dice this weekend! Where I would have plunked down autumn leaves and fake pumpkins, my friend Mary had a vision to make our women's social beautiful with these flower arrangments and white pumpkin candleholders.

For me, our event was a fun celebration of women's gifts, and the fact that we are better together!

@kristenains had a great idea, organization, and menu planning skills.
@emileemeeks gave it a cute name and promoted it.
@marystoelzing made it beautiful (and got her husband and his wheelbarrow to bring in all the pumpkins).
@raisinshan led us through the ins and outs of Bunco!
@heyjayes had a willing heart to help with setup.

So grateful to get to serve with such an amazing team of women and for our @northwestbiblewomen community. ♥️

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It's almost 6 months now since I started a new role as women's minister at Northwest Bible Church. I'm so grateful for how God has helped me up to now and for the lovely community of women I get to serve. I've been stretched in new ways, and I'm learning more about desperate dependence on Jesus! He's showing me that the most important thing I can do to serve others well is to cultivate a quiet spirit that waits on God, listens for His voice, and trusts His power instead of running ahead on my own steam! 😅

I'm looking forward to the coming season and continuing to learn how to seek more of God's presence and and trust His power.

Also looking forward to cooler days! What are you looking forward to in this new season? 🍂🍁

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