1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

There’s a sound I’ve come to know, that always brings a smile.

♫Ding a ling ling ling.♫ That’s the sound my phone makes when I have a new text. I just recently came into the texting world (yes, I was living in a cave) and I can’t tell you how much fun I have been having! From one of my texting sessions comes this story.

It was Monday afternoon, the day before I was about to LEAD my first ever (I didn’t ask to do this, I think I might pass out while I’m doing it) Bible study.

Truth be told, I was having trouble staying in the mentality that “I can do all things through Christ”. I was going in and out of faith so much I was afraid I would get permanently stuck out of faith. My husband noticed I was a little blue and being a sweetie offered to take me to lunch at my favorite Italian restaurant. A restaurant where the hot garlic bread drips with butter, the antipasto salad is loaded with pepperonis, salami, crisp iceberg lettuce, Italian dressing drizzled all over and the spaghetti and meatballs are to die for.

When the meal was over, it hadn’t made a dent in lifting my spirit. I knew then I was in need of some serious help. As we drove back home, the sound I’ve come to love came through. It was my dear friend and she was texting me some encouragement.

♫Ding a ling ling ling.♫ – “Geri, you can do this! God has equipped you and the Holy Spirit will be with you.”

As I read the text a smile emerged but inside the knot in my stomach still remained.

♫Ding a ling ling ling.♫ – “Remember Psalm 23:3 – He guides you in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.“

The Word. It began to soften the knot but the feeling of doubt lingered. I wished I could just stop doubting that I could do this.

♫Ding a ling ling ling.♫ – “Geri, no matter what, I will still love you friend”

And with those words God broke through. Tears started welling up in my eyes and the truth began to flow. If my friend could still love me no matter what happened tomorrow, then surely my Father could. Even if I messed up the prayer, forgot scripture, or had a plain old panic attack right in the middle of the group, my Father would still love me because no matter what, I was willing to step out in faith for Him into a place that made my heart race.

I began thinking of the process that had just occurred to bring my break through. First, my friend had given me words of hope- and it helped. Then, she gave me the Word (faith) and that helped a little more. But, then she gave me love. It was love that put it all into perspective and let truth come in.

Love is the greatest and it never fails.

So the next time you find yourself with a loved one who is hurting, scared, or confused. Pray for them, yes, speak the Word to them, absolutely. But above all, LOVE THEM. Because in doing so you will have chosen the greatest and it’s power is beyond what you can imagine.

p.s. The bible study went perfect. The Holy spirit showed up, and none of the above fears happened. You gotta love God 🙂