To want to be loved is a universal longing and common condition of all mankind. We crave it deeply—more than we typically are willing to admit. We long for approval, for acceptance, and a sense of belonging. We want someone to care what happens to us—good or bad. We want someone who feels for us during difficult times and rejoices with us during our victories, however small they might be. We want to feel valued and included and therefore to enjoy a sense of self-worth. This is why the hate and wickedness of men can take such a toll on us. A man who exalts himself over God will often do so at the expense of others as well. He does not care whom he may hurt along the way because he has no standard other than himself to follow. People like this put others down, walk over people, and spew hatred as part of the normal course of their lives. They fill the air with negativity and wickedness in an attempt to rise above all others to capture their heart’s desire—even if it means piercing the hearts of others in the process. For many this is every day practice—hurting others by their words and actions without even realizing that they are putting their own hurt on display in the process.
David spoke of “the transgression of the wicked” in terms such as these (Psa. 36:1-4), but he followed it with a praise of the precious lovingkindness of the LORD that deserves all the attention our heart can muster. “Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psa. 36:5-7). When the LORD asks you to have faith in Him, He does so only after showing you just how much He loves you. David’s description of God’s love, offered in these glimpses of various attributes, show the immeasurable character of the love of God. He can be trusted above all others because He loves as no one else has loved. No matter what any man may do and no matter how much evil men may commit, the love of God still surpasses (Psa. 36:8-12). We should never let the sins of others cause us to doubt the love of God.
In the course of this life you will inevitably face a number of trials—trials of your patience, trials of your character, and trials of your faith. Satan will attack you through wicked men. He will attack you by attacking those whom you love. He will attack you by causing you to doubt yourself, doubt others, and doubt even God. And when these trials come, there is but one thought to consider: God is love (1 Jn. 4:8). He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us (Jn. 3:16). He loved us enough to make salvation for us possible even while we remained in the midst of our sin (Rom. 5:8). He loved us enough to sustain us in life and suffer long with us during our rebellion so that we could repent and return to Him once more (2 Pet. 3:9). The precious lovingkindness of the LORD surpasses the heights of heaven and the depths of the deep. It is indeed a great God who can love us this much. And this kind of love should motivate us to love Him and trust Him like no one else, for He is like no one else. He is our God, and He is love.
Source: Convictions of Honor