When things go wrong or it feels like God has abandoned us, do we still unreservedly love him? If he doesn’t answer our prayers and seems to be uncaring of our needs, do we remain confident that God is in loving control of our lives? Are we content to love God even when we do not experience his presence or any joy or blessings or help? Do we love God unconditionally, as he loves us?

It struck me the other day that I wonder how many of us, myself included, love God unconditionally. In other words, whatever happens in my life do I trust that God is looking after me, holding me close, understanding what I’m going through? Am I sure that God is working out a plan in my life that will be a great blessing in the end? Merlin Carothers wrote his Praise books many years ago and I guess this is what he was encouraging us to do. Don’t second guess God? We will never be able to imagine the wonderful ways of God in our lives. Just know he is doing something beyond our wildest dreams. It may not be immediately or even to our liking, but nonetheless, it will be the best overall for us and others. I need to respond to whatever happens in my life with an unconditionally “yes” to God, affirming my implicit trust in Him, his goodness, mercy and healing. I know that God’s love is perfect and will turn the ashes of my bad experiences, pain and suffering into beauty for Him and for us all. He doesn’t only love me when I acknowledge Him but also when I am forgetful of him and even when I turn my back on him. That is unconditional love. So it makes sense that I should love God in the same way, unconditionally.

Of course, this type of loving is only possible by God’s grace and the knowledge and experience of his unconditional love. No matter what happens to us, even those things we view as disasters in our lives, let us trust God absolutely and always give him our vote of grateful thanks, resting in our shared unconditional love. As much as God’s unconditional love comforts and upholds us, so in an amazing way our unconditional love pleases God. Our own well-being and the well-being of others will be enhanced when we live each day positively in mutual unconditional love with God.