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Love Unto the End

May 01, 2023 · by Whitney Gothra

On my Instagram page, the algorithm has figured out I’m married with little kids. When scrolling, I keep getting suggested reels about marriage and motherhood. Some are encouraging, others are funny, and more than a few are cringey. But overall, they give such an insight into the human condition.

As humans, we have to work to keep sparks alive and our emotions in check. Marriages take effort and intention. Parenthood requires patience and rest. Boiling honeymoon love can turn into barely simmering love if you ignore your spouse or take your relationship for granted. A mother’s selfless love toward her child can turn into resentment and annoyance if she doesn’t put boundaries in place and keep her cup filled.

Our love is far from limitless. Our hearts, originally designed for love, can begin to carry frustrations and hurts and jealousy and pain. Almost 2,400 divorces occur in the US every day. That’s one approximately every 36 seconds. More than 7,000 children are abandoned each year in the US. Families broken. Love severed.

Human love is fallible.

In John 13, Jesus knew He was about to be crucified. He knew His closest earthly friends were about to betray Him, deny Him, leave Him. Before He bent to wash their feet, the Bible said, “having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.”

Unto the end.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!” 1 John 3:1

If you’re struggling in the human heart department, may I draw your eyes toward Jesus? His is a love that has no limits. No boundaries. No ultimatums. Nothing can sever it, hinder it, diminish it, or turn it. He will never leave you, abandon you, or grow tired of you. His love is until the end, and, if you’re a child of His, that end is a new beginning in His Kingdom.

We work to carry the weight of love in our human, fallible hearts. Yet, we are held up by the everlasting arms. Draw from His love today. Let it infiltrate your families. Let it spill over into your friendships. Let it invade your marriage. Let it overflow into your motherhood. Let it rest in your heart. He’s got you.

Whitney Gothra

About Whitney Gothra

Whitney Gothra and her husband Timothy have been married for around fifteen years, and they have three sweet and spicy girls, Ruby, Selah, and Marigold. They pastor the Apostolic Church of Wabash in Wabash, Indiana. You can connect with her on Instagram @theflourishstudio or online at whitneygothra.com.

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