Assured of Love?

In an attempt to further reflect on things I'm reading currently, I thought it might be beneficial to recount an idea by noted Christian author, John Piper. It deals with the uncertainty that many of us face, as we ask the question, 'Does God really love me? If only I could be sure!'

I know this is an idea that subtly nags many of us, or if you're like me you've asked the question outright several times. Also, if you're like me, you might know God's love 'in your head', but not 'in your heart' - in our bad times we repeatedly recite, 'Yes, Jesus loves me; the Bible tells me so' (or something more age-tailored), but this idea doesn't translate to that love and peace which calms the storm that we feel in our hearts. We look for something more solid; more tangible. Something we can hear, touch, or see.

Piper uses a peculiar illustration, yet makes his point well, which has helped me translate that 'head knowledge' into 'heart knowledge' a little bit better. Or, to put it another way, helped me find greater satisfaction in what God has chosen to reveal to me, as far as assurance of His love is concerned.

Piper uses the example of a spouse, and essentially asks the question, 'How can you be sure that your spouse will not kill you?'

Peculiar indeed...

It seems like a ridiculous question, but consider: a spouse is an independent being beyond your control. Furthermore, there is nothing that they could do to prove to you beyond any shadow of a doubt, that they would never try to take your life. At some level, you could no more predict their thoughts and actions any more than you can a total stranger.

And yet you would feel confident, as you lay down to sleep next to them, that you would wake up the next morning. Why is that?

Piper suggests two reasons. Firstly, your previous experiences with that person, as you see first-hand what they are like; how they treat you, others, etc. Secondly, your knowledge of that person and their character, which I think is largely derived from what that person reveals about themselves, and we learn about that person from others.

And most of us do not demand a further symbolic 'proof'. Even if we did, what kind of sign could satisfy us beyond any doubt? I can't think of any, but generally, our combined experience and knowledge of someone is enough to satisfy us in a relationship.

Yet for some reason, like with so many things, we hold God to a different standard.

We have a lifetime of experience to reflect on God's goodness to us; His mercy and His sustaining grace; His divine providence in many situations whose outcomes remind us that God is still in control. Our knowledge of His character is drawn not only from what God has chosen to reveal to us in His divine word, the Bible, but also as we share our experiences with our Christian Brothers and Sisters, as we are privileged to see God demonstrating His love and divine character in the lives of others.

In short, we have all the things which satisfy us in our earthly relationships. Why is this not sufficient for us  to be assured of the love of our Heavenly Father; the One who can love us perfectly and completely, unlike our earthly loved ones who are tainted by sin?

Why do we seek further 'signs of proof'? (Question: Is there a greater proof of love than the sacrifice of the life of His own son?)

So, if we are satisfied by knowledge and experience in our flawed, earthly relationships, then if we, by faith, take the Bible at its word, our knowledge and experience of God should assure us of His love.

And while an assurance of God's love will not quell the storms raging in our fragile hearts, it may give us something to cling to as we ride the waves. SG