It is a common error to measure God’s love by our own feelings, as though His heart were as fickle as ours. We all make mistakes, and therefore we imagine that God does the same, but He is not deceived by outward appearances; He looks at the heart. The sister who aches under the weight of her struggles and mistakes has fallen into this very snare, thinking the Lord’s affection waxes and wanes with her performance. Yet when we see the beauties of everlasting love gleaming in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, every power of our being seems to say, “I must trust in Him and rest in Him alone.” Tell her this: His love is not a reward for the perfect, but a fountain for the filthy. He gave them more, and more, and more, until, by the wondrous power of His grace, He slew their enmity and caused love to take its place.
You ask me to pray that she would experience God’s love, peace, and presence. Then let her fix her mind upon the text, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You.” Peace! Perfect peace! The blood of Jesus whispers peace within, not peace earned by her own striving, but peace purchased at the cross. Great peace have they which love Your law, yet this peace can exist when strife rages all around. It is not the absence of sorrow, but the presence of the Savior. Bear your sorrow with Him and then see what peace, what perfect peace, you will enjoy, even with sorrows surging round. The Lord is not like a man who withholds forgiveness until he sees amendment; no, He delights to forgive, to restore, to woo the wandering heart back to His bosom. Love abounding, love lamenting, love abiding, this is the way of our God. If He chides us for withholding our love-tokens, it is because He values our love and is grieved when it grows cold. He would have her know that His love is not built upon her loveliness, but upon His own nature.
Let her not imagine that her mistakes have shut her out from His affection. For what man is there on the face of the earth who does not make mistakes? The Lord knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. It is to such poor, broken creatures that He speaks: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” His love is not like ours, so easily soured by offenses. No, it is love abiding, remaining constant to its objective, notwithstanding all the provocations which have grieved it. She may feel that her sins have made her unlovable, but that is precisely the moment when the divine love shines brightest. I am sure that if she has been with the Lord in private prayer and He has lifted her up to His bosom and revealed His secret thoughts of love, she will smite upon her breast and say, “Such love as His to such a worm as I am is altogether too great.” Yet this very humbling is the doorway to peace.
Press upon her this truth: the Lord desires not a slavish fear, but a willing love. Who can refuse to be vanquished by love? He conquers not by threats but by tenderness. Can the wish of a dear friend be trivial to those who love him? Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” yet even our obedience is but a response to His prior love. Let her pour out her heart to Him, tell the Savior how she loves Him, even if it be but a spark. Rehearse His deeds of grace toward her. To sit down, or kneel, or walk, and say, “My gracious Lord, I do love You. Teach me to love You more”, this is the sweetest form of devotion. And as she does so, that spark, born of His own eternal flame, shall never be quenched.
You long for her to know that His love isn’t based on her performance. Then let her cease from her labors and simply trust. It is by trusting that we enter into peace. Simple faith and experimental prudence make up a sacred milk and wine, calm patience and rapturous love blend most deliciously. The Lord loves His people and makes the most of them, even in their weakness. He does not demand flawlessness before He embraces; He embraces in order to produce flawlessness. When we love God’s law, we reach forward to the peace of resignation, acquiescing in His will. It is of no use to quarrel with God. Instead, let her fall into His arms.
I pray the Lord to give her many tokens of His presence. May she find that the love of Christ passes knowledge, yet may she taste it, eat it, drink it abundantly. Let nothing lie by, let her take in the whole truth concerning His Person and love by meditation, contemplation, and reverent simplicity. And as she does, this will be her song: “Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.” For when a soul is anchored in Christ, not even her own failures can separate her from His love. It is enough! Earth’s struggles soon shall cease, and Jesus calls us to Heaven’s perfect peace.