How to Know You Are Truly Loved by God

A Lesson in Love from a Little Girl

Years ago, I had a sweet conversation with my granddaughter, Emersyn. She was five at the time and visiting me for the weekend. Like most young children, she knew she was deeply loved, but that didn’t mean she always minded her Neenee.

I remember sitting on the couch when she asked me a question that still sticks with me:

“Neenee, would you be mad at me if I broke your plate?”

I told her that if it was an accident, then no, I wouldn’t be upset. But if I had warned her to stop playing around and she didn’t listen, that would be a different story. We talked through it, and she quickly understood that disobedience, not the broken plate, was the real issue.

She hugged me tightly and said, “I love you, Neenee!” I hugged her back and reassured her, “I will always love you, no matter what.”

“Even if I don’t mind?” she asked, looking me right in the eye.

“Even if you don’t mind,” I said, “you’ll always be my girl, and I’ll always love you.”

She smiled, gave me another quick squeeze, and ran off to play.

What 1 John Taught Me About God’s Unconditional Love

Later that week, I was reading 1 John 4 and came across a passage that reminded me of that moment with Emersyn.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Just like Emersyn didn’t fear my love, even when she made mistakes, we don’t need to fear God’s love either. Yes, there are consequences for disobedience. But for those of us who are in Christ, fear doesn’t need to define our relationship with God. His perfect love pushes that fear away.

God’s Love Isn’t Conditional—It’s Constant

It’s easy to feel loved when we’ve “been good.” But what about when we’ve messed up? What about the times we’ve disobeyed or fallen short?

God already knew we would.

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

He didn’t send a backup plan or an afterthought. He sent His only Son. That’s the depth of God’s love for us. He looked at each of us and said, “Even when you disobey, even when you get it wrong, you’ll always be my child, and I’ll always love you.”

How to Live in the Confidence of God’s Love

• Don’t let fear keep you from going to God when you mess up.
• Trust that His love isn’t earned, it’s freely given.
• Live like someone who is fully, freely, and unconditionally loved by their Heavenly Father.

If a five-year-old can understand that kind of love, maybe it’s time we did, too.

So go ahead, give your worries to the Lord. He already knows. Now go run down the hall and play.

To GOD Goes the Glory

Have a Blessed Day

Let’s End with a Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving me even when I mess up. Help me remember that Your love isn’t conditional, and I never have to earn it. When I feel fear or shame, remind me that Your perfect love casts out fear. Teach me to live in that love daily and to extend it to others the way You extend it to me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.