The Father's Love
Article by Lauri McNair, MS
Some of the deepest core longings of the human heart are love, acceptance, relationship, and security. When these core longings go unmet, the ache of the human heart is profound and at times unbearably overwhelming. Abuse, rejection, abandonment, violence, bullying, and trauma are some instances in which the longings of the heart go unmet. As a result, we begin a futile pursuit of "looking for love in all the wrong places". We look to people or things that we hope will relieve the pain of being denied a need, or at least bring temporary comfort and soothe the ache of a longing heart.
At the root of many emotional struggles and challenges, maladaptive coping skills, relational and behavioral problems is the unmet longing of the heart--the need to be loved, accepted, and secure. These longings are natural, instinctive, and designed by God. Only God can truly meet the needs and longings of the heart because he is love.
"...for God is love." (I John 4:16)
"...I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With an unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." (Jeremiah 31:3)
"The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease." (Lamentations 3:22)
Some of the deepest core longings of the human heart are love, acceptance, relationship, and security. When these core longings go unmet, the ache of the human heart is profound and at times unbearably overwhelming. Abuse, rejection, abandonment, violence, bullying, and trauma are some instances in which the longings of the heart go unmet. As a result, we begin a futile pursuit of "looking for love in all the wrong places". We look to people or things that we hope will relieve the pain of being denied a need, or at least bring temporary comfort and soothe the ache of a longing heart.
At the root of many emotional struggles and challenges, maladaptive coping skills, relational and behavioral problems is the unmet longing of the heart--the need to be loved, accepted, and secure. These longings are natural, instinctive, and designed by God. Only God can truly meet the needs and longings of the heart because he is love.
"...for God is love." (I John 4:16)
"...I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With an unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." (Jeremiah 31:3)
"The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease." (Lamentations 3:22)