Tag Archives: tenderness

DEAR GOD: Teach Us About Your Loving Heart~

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“Jesus wept.”—John 11:35 (KJV)

The Tears That Teach Us God’s Heart
by C D SWANSON

The shortest verse in Scripture carries one of the deepest revelations of God’s character. “Jesus wept” is not simply a moment of sorrow; it is a window into the compassion of Christ. Standing at the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus knew He was about to raise him from the dead. He knew joy was moments away. Yet He still allowed Himself to feel the weight of human grief, the sting of loss, and the ache of those He loved.

His tears were not a sign of weakness but of divine empathy. They tell us that God is not distant from our pain. He does not rush past our sorrow or silence our emotions. Instead, He steps into them with us. He feels what we feel. He honors our tears with His own.

In this single moment, Jesus shows us that love is not only expressed in miracles but also in shared sorrow. His tears sanctify our tears. His compassion dignifies our grief. His presence assures us that no valley is walked alone.

When we face heartbreak, confusion, or loss, this verse whispers a truth we desperately need: God is moved by what moves us. He is not indifferent. He is not cold. He is not far away. He weeps with us, walks with us, and ultimately brings resurrection into places that feel hopeless.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being a Savior who feels deeply and loves completely. Thank You for entering our sorrow, carrying our burdens, and meeting us with compassion. When my heart aches, remind me that You are near, that You understand, and that Your presence brings comfort and hope. Teach me to trust Your timing, rest in Your love, and believe in Your power to bring life where there has been loss. Amen.

DEAR GOD: Your Love Found Us First~

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💛   The First Love That Found Us

✨ Before we ever reached for God, He reached for us. Before we ever whispered a prayer, He had already spoken our name. The verse from 1 John 4:19 is not merely a theological statement—it is a tender unveiling of divine initiative. “We love him, because he first loved us.” These words are the heartbeat of grace.

God’s love is not reactive. It is not earned, provoked, or bargained for. It is original, initiating, and eternal. In a world that often teaches us to perform for affection, this truth stands in holy contrast: we are loved first. Not when we are perfect. Not when we are ready. Not when we are useful. But first.

This “first love” is the foundation of our faith. It is the reason we can respond with love, worship, and obedience—not out of fear or obligation, but out of awe. When we realize that God’s love preceded our existence, our failures, and our repentance, we begin to live differently. We stop striving and start abiding.

This love is not abstract. It was embodied in Christ, who came while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). It was poured out in blood, sealed in resurrection, and offered freely. It is the love that waits for the prodigal, weeps with the broken, and walks with the weary. It is the love that calls us beloved even when we feel unworthy.

To love Him back is not a transaction—it is a response. A response to being known, chosen, and pursued. And even our response is empowered by His Spirit. We love because He loved. We forgive because He forgave. We serve because He served. Everything begins with Him.

In seasons of doubt, grief, or transition, this truth anchors us. When we feel distant, His love remains near. When we feel unlovable, His love remains unchanged. When we feel lost, His love remains seeking.

Let this be our testimony: not that we found God, but that He found us first. Not that we earned His love, but that He gave it freely. Not that we are strong, but that His love strengthens us.

📚 Supporting Scriptures:

  • Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
  • John 15:16 — “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…”
  • Ephesians 2:4-5 — “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…”
  • Deuteronomy 7:7-8 — “The Lord did not set his love upon you… because ye were more in number… but because the Lord loved you…”
  • Psalm 139:13-16 — “Thou hast possessed my reins… I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
  • Isaiah 43:1 — “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”

🪞 Reflective Questions:

  1. When did you first realize that God loved you before you ever loved Him?
  2. How does knowing you are loved first change the way you approach prayer, worship, or service?
  3. Are there areas in your life where you still feel you must “earn” God’s love?
  4. What would it look like to rest in His initiating love today?
  5. How can you reflect this “first love” to others who feel forgotten or unworthy?

🙏 Closing Prayer:

“LORD- thank You for loving us first. Before we knew You, before we sought You, before we could even respond—You loved. Let Your love be our anchor, our identity, and our song. Teach us to rest in it, reflect it, and respond with hearts full of gratitude. May we never forget that our love for You is only possible because You loved us first. In Jesus name, Amen.”

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The Lord Delights in You!

Micah 7:18 (KJV)
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

“He Delights in Mercy”

 This verse from Micah is a gentle thunder—declaring the Lord’s love not as a distant concept, but as a living, breathing mercy that chooses compassion over wrath. It begins with awe: “Who is a God like unto thee?”—a rhetorical cry that echoes through the ages. There is none like Him. No one forgives as He does. No one holds back judgment with such grace. No one delights in mercy the way our Lord does.

Micah speaks to a remnant—a people who have faltered, wandered, and wear the dust of their own failures. And yet, the Lord does not abandon them. He passes by transgression, not because He ignores sin, but because He chooses to cover it with love. His anger is not eternal; His mercy is.

To say that God delights in mercy is to say that it brings Him joy to forgive, to restore, to heal. Mercy is not a reluctant concession—it is His pleasure. His love is not earned; it is poured out. This is the heartbeat of the Gospel, even in the Old Testament: a God who bends low to lift us up.

Reflective Questions

  1. When have you felt the Lord “pass by” your transgression with mercy instead of judgment?
  2. Do you believe He delights in showing you compassion—not just tolerates it?
  3. What would change in your life if you truly rested in His mercy?
  4. How can you reflect His mercy to others, especially those who’ve wounded you?

Supportive Scriptures

  • Psalm 103:8 – The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
  • Lamentations 3:22–23 – It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed… they are new every morning.
  • Isaiah 55:7 – Let the wicked forsake his way… and He will have mercy upon him.
  • Luke 15:20 – But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him… and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
  • Ephesians 2:4–5 – But God, who is rich in mercy… hath quickened us together with Christ.

Prayer of Mercy and Restoration

Lord, You are not like us. You do not hold grudges. You do not delight in punishment. You delight in mercy. You see our brokenness and still call us beloved. You pass over our failures and draw us near. Teach us to rest in Your compassion, to trust Your forgiveness, and to reflect Your love to others. May Your mercy be our rhythm, our refuge, and our reason to rise again.

 

DEAR GOD: Thank You For Your Compassion~

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  John 11:35 (KJV) –
“Jesus wept.”

💧 The Tears of God: Compassion in Its Purest Form

Two words. One eternal truth. “Jesus wept.” In this moment, the Son of God—who holds power over death—stood beside grieving friends and let His tears fall. Not because He lacked strength, but because He possessed perfect love. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus, yet He chose to enter the sorrow of others. His tears were not weakness—they were divine empathy.

This is the heart of our Savior: not distant, not indifferent, but deeply moved by human pain. He weeps with us. He walks with us. He understands our grief, our confusion, our longing. And in His compassion, He shows us how to live.

To follow Jesus is to carry this same heart. A heart that pauses for others. That listens. That weeps. That lifts. Whether in joy or sorrow, we are called to reflect His love—not just in words, but in presence. In every act of kindness, every moment of understanding, we echo the tears of Christ.

Supportive Scriptures (KJV)

  • Hebrews 4:15 — “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”
  • Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…”
  • Romans 12:15 — “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
  • Matthew 5:7 — “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Reflective Question

When was the last time I allowed myself to feel deeply for someone else—not to fix, but simply to be present?

🙏 Prayer

“LORD-Thank You for showing us that compassion is holy. That tears are sacred. That love is not distant, but near. Help us to carry Your heart into every moment—to weep with those who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to walk gently with those in pain. May we never be too busy to care, too proud to feel, or too hardened to love. Shape us into vessels of Your mercy and let our lives reflect the tenderness of Your tears. In Jesus name, Amen.”