LOVE DOESN’T BUDGE | Why God Stays Through Your Worst Behavior

Years ago, my mom warily circled my 4-year-old like a lion tamer.

"Are you good Kati or bad Kati today?" Nanny asked, coaxing good Kati out while Grandpa secured all loose objects in bad Kati's reach.

Most days, the very best in Kati would smile and run to Nanny for a big hug. But every so often, her granddaughter answered with a swift kick to the floor lamp.

While Grandpa ran to get the super glue, Nanny didn't budge.

Her grandbaby was flesh of her flesh, bone of her bones. Nanny would never think of denying her own blood or leaving her to clean up a mess on her own.

So if a grandma's love outlasts a tantrum, how much more will God's perfect love remain?

Limitless love might seem crazy to those of us who spent years trying to be "good" so God would keep loving us.

But being good for love never feels like a hug — it's more like a swift kick to the soul that leaves a mark.

We're afraid to make a wrong move. We're terrified of giving the wrong answer. We fear making people angry.

So we hide our feelings and questions and paste on a silly smile.

But conforming to conditional love breeds a rebellion we can't contain, so desperate are we to be loved as we are.

God's answer to our desperation was to make us His own by sending Jesus, His Only Son — flesh of His flesh, bone of His bones — Jesus poured out His blood and loved us as we are.

And His blood is what holds, not our good behavior.

God secured our love in His own blood.

It’s not based on what version of you shows up in the living room.

No matter what comes, Jesus has a firm grip on your salvation.

Some days, we sing "Jesus Loves Me" while fighting the urge to take down a floor lamp or two.

Take heart, struggling friend. God will not be moved.

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord who has compassion on you. “— Isaiah 54:10

His amazing grace births a change of heart that, over time, changes our behavior.

Who you are in Christ will never be removed. His passion stays through slammed doors, toppled lamps, and spilled milk.

His perfect love corrects and mends, but never abandons His own.

Whether you're good or bad today is no longer the question.

The question is — do you know you're loved?