A Love Worth Finding (by Cathe Laurie) | Valentine's Day Devotional
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV).
Valentine’s Day Is Here
My beautiful sister in Christ, Valentine’s Day is coming, and the world is screaming that you need a certain kind of love: the kind that results in ring selfies and makes strangers whisper, “I wish I were her.”
We want the extravagant dates, candlelight meals, and long hours whispering sweet nothings to each other. We want the kind of love that lends itself to social media posts—a big, loud, over-the-top kind of romance that others will envy.
Love From God’s Perspective
But the truth is that God, in His kindness, wrote the real love story you were made for, and it usually looks a lot more like Tuesday night dishes than a Paris proposal. It burns more like well-tended coals than the quick, hot flame of a sparkler. It serves more in the way of changing dirty diapers than gifting the most expensive jewelry and latest designer handbags.
There’s a passage we’ve probably heard a thousand times, but one that’s crucial in understanding the kind of love story God wants us to experience: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Read it with me and let each element sink into your heart.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love does not boast.
Love is not arrogant.
Love is not rude.
Love does not insist on its own way.
Love is not irritable.
Love is not resentful.
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things.
Love believes all things.
Love hopes all things.
Love endures all things.
Doesn’t that sound like a love worth having?
Faithful Waiting
The love you’re chasing this February isn’t waiting in a spotlight. It’s waiting in the still moments with your Bible and in the quiet dailiness God is preparing for you. For God didn’t just tell us what love is. He demonstrated it through His Son, Jesus. And He wants to shower His love over us, if we’ll let Him.
Spend time with the Lord. Open your heart up to Him. Let Him show you what His love—true love—really looks like. And as you wait and pray for a God-honoring love story, I want to encourage you: Don’t settle for anything less than His best. Re-read 1 Corinthians 13 every day, to remind yourself of the kind of love you’re waiting for, the kind of love God intended and designed for you, and the kind of love He shows you every day!
Don’t look for the flashy; look for the faithful. Don’t look for the wealthy; look for those who are rich in the Lord. And, above all, turn to the One who loves you better than any human ever will—the One who gave His life for you. No matter what, His love makes Valentine’s Day worth celebrating!
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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.
