Filling the Love Gap
Did you grow up feeling like God was hard to please?
If you could just get it right, He would like you more?
I’m not sure why my heart and mind believed something so twisted. Fortunately, Jesus saw my messed up thinking and, loving me so much, He sent some really neat women in my life to help. They could see that I really didn’t get how crazy Jesus was about me.
They opened my eyes to see Jesus didn’t want to just be the God I served; He wanted to be the God I loved.
The more these friends shared this truth, the more I started to get it. (Sometimes our weird way of thinking takes awhile to change!) They spent a lot of time with me, teaching me the truth of how Jesus saw me.
They taught me to soak in Jesus’ love letters. I had grown up hearing and learning that Jesus is my leader, savior and my best friend. What I never knew was the love gap I had, that gapping cavern in my heart that could never perform enough, could never get her heart full of enough approval, the gap that was empty of the level of love and approval I so desperately wanted…He was the only one who could fill that love gap.
No dad, no boyfriend, no amazing husband one day can fill the love gap of our hearts…only Jesus.
These very cool women taught me where to find love letters from Jesus in the Bible. They taught me to put my name in them and read them over and over and over again until His words filled that love gap.
Verses like Isaiah 43:1- 4 “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you, Lynn. I’ve called your name. You’re mine…I paid a huge price for you: That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, Lynn, trade the creation just for you.” The Message
All around you are young girls and women who need to hear this message. They are searching so desperately to be loved, willing to give up their most prized possessions – their hearts and bodies – to get it.
Would you say “yes” to God to sharing this message? He can speak through you to your daughter, her friends, the girls in your neighborhood and in your church. All you have to do is be willing and take the first step to begin a relationship with them.
Just make some room, some time, to invest in them. Maybe you could start a small group for girls or make time for coffee with a friend who needs His truth. Allow God to use you to be the one to teach her where she can go to get her heart filled!
Lynn, Where do I find such love letters like this? Is there a book out there I can get? I have always had issues with God because of my Dad and guys who treated me wrong. I NEED to do something like this so I don’t feel like He’s always angry with me like I even do at this very moment. I know it’s not the truth but it is always embedded in the back of my mind and I don’t want it anymore. I just want TRUTH there!
Blessings,
Heather
Heather, I am so glad you asked!
I would love to recommend my book “His Revolutionary Love” as a great beginning for laying a foundation for understanding just how crazy about us Jesus is!
Sherri Rose Shepherd wrote a book that is really great called “His Princess: Love Letters from Your King”. She has taken scripture and made them into love letters from Jesus.
You can order both of these books from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
I hope this helps!
Thank you for this. I appreciate your challenge at the end too. So often I nod my head in agreement yet never make a step in someone else’s direction to share God’s love. I will definitely check out the books in the above comments!
Thanks so much Kasey! He fills us to share it with others, right?
Wise words that I wish I had as a young girl searching for love. Thank you for leading and loving a generation of moms and daughters.
love this. i am so grateful for those precious love letters written to us!
Hi Lynn! What a joy to be your neighbor at Suzie’s #livefree
Linkup. I understand this difference “serving” God vs. “loving” God, and am
asking Him and others to help me move from law to grace, duty to delight.:)
Lynn- Love your heart for young girls! I’ve heard you speak twice and love your first book. My daughter has excerpts stuck to her mirror. My heart was one that need all the words of the scriptures to be personal to me for so long. This year I will step into the world of teaching youth girls in VBS. I pray they see the love of Christ and how He adores each one of them! Thank you for sharing!
Jodie, thank you so much for your words of encouragement! I am so excited to hear you are going to start investing in the next generation of wise girls. Thank you for being an answer to my prayers!
I was the same girl… still am at times. And blogs like this are what feeds the right part of my soul. Thank you! What a treasured writing. <3
Lynn, I love this blog and I have soooooooo been the girl/woman with a love gap. I didn’t begin to get it until my 30s; but thankfully I’m on the right path. Thank you for this post and the charge to pay it forward for a young girl.
Wonderful message here, Lynn! I have been the woman that expected a man to be happiness, love, joy, contentment, peace, and fun all wrapped up into a strong human being. While I am not that woman anymore, sometimes I still get caught up in expecting things from people…things that only Jesus can provide. Thank you for the reminder that Jesus is enough!
Love to hear you have found the Love of your life in Jesus, Laura! Thank you so much for stopping by!