I stood in an Ethiopian church in London, England in July. The city — famous for its grey skies and rainy weather — was in the centre of a heat wave. And let me tell you, it was hot. The church was small and not air-conditioned. Small fans whirred at the front, near the stage. Perspiration dribbled down my back.
“Why am I here, God?” I prayed silently. I knew the reason I was in London for the summer — to complete an internship for my college journalism program — but it felt as though there was something more to why I was there. So many factors needed to shift into place in order for me to go to England. There must’ve been a greater reason than simply an internship.
I asked God the question again. I listened carefully, paying close attention to my heart.
Listening to God isn’t something that comes naturally for me. Spending time in silence and solitude is hard. I get distracted easily — by Instagram and my runaway thoughts. I constantly have to come back to the presence of Jesus in and around me. I remind myself to listen, and I remind myself to be still.
“Be still and know that I am God” — it’s a good reminder when I’m practicing listening to His voice.
I don’t always hear from God, but when I do I generally see a picture or a short video in my mind. But the day I stood in the London church was different. Almost immediately after I asked the question, I felt words whisper across my heart, words I was certain didn’t come from my own mind.
I brought you to London to tell you I love you.
I laughed, out loud in the middle of the church.
“Are you serious?” I asked Him silently. “You flew me seven hours, across an entire ocean, because You wanted me to know You love me?”
I didn’t hear anything that time, but I remembered the words I’d clearly heard a handful of seconds earlier and replayed them in my mind: I brought you to London to tell you I love you.
What I hadn’t told God — what I hadn’t told anybody — was that for most of my life I’d had a longing for someone to love me enough to fly across an ocean for me. I pictured living far away, only to have someone show up on my doorstep, exhausted from travel but determined to assure me of their love. It’s silly and slightly dramatic, but I’ll be the first to admit I’m a fan of sweeping gestures.
I started to cry when I realized that God had done this thing I’d always wanted and never said. He flew me across an ocean, and then He met me there with the words each human longs to hear: I love you.
He cared enough about my silly, dramatic dream to meet me in the middle of my longing. Tears coursed down my cheeks at the thought of His tender kindness.
I don’t always feel the love of God, but feeling is far different than knowing. Feelings don’t always equate to the truth. Even when I don’t feel loved, I wake up with the knowledge that I am His beloved, regardless of how I might feel.
And so are you.
Even when you fail, you are loved.
Even when you feel unworthy, you are loved.
Even when you’ve done the worst thing you think you could ever possibly do, you are loved.
I know this to be true. How? Because He’s the God who crosses oceans to tell us so.
Even when I don’t feel loved, I wake up with the knowledge that I am His beloved, regardless of how I might feel. -@alizalatta: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Aliza that is really really special ❤️. I recently went to Cambodia all orchestrated by God, the experiences the people the opportunity could have only come from him. The scholarships, every finer detail down to my children’s care was all HIM. God is Amazing, he really really IS LOVE. We are so lucky to have such an awesome caring God that loves us regardless of how we feel never changes that fact!!! Thankful you shared here today x
Jas — that is so amazing! I think God loves when we get to see other parts of the world. So beautiful!
Beautiful truth!
Sometimes God has to put our feet (and our distract-able brains) in a new place so we can hear His voice. I love this reminder that God will stop at NOTHING!
Yes, Michele! And I am ever so grateful when He takes us to those places.
Aliza,
Isn’t amazing the lengths God will go to in order to let us know that He loves us dearly and passionately and to reassure us that we can trust His heart?! I believe all of us have that hole in our heart that only God can fill, but we need to ask….that’s all, simply ask. God will move heaven and earth to let us know that we are loved. Sometimes the message comes in ways that we wouldn’t have chosen, or in complex, God-orchestrated moments, but it comes. Love this story and the testimony you have of God meeting you right where He knew He needed to meet you. Oh yes, He’d cross many oceans to meet you! Beautiful!
Blessings,
Bev xx
The lengths truly are amazing… and it’s a reminder I need to think of often. Even after this experience, I can still forget how much He loves me! But then I pause and remember and reflect, and think back to that day all over again.
Thank you so much for your encouragement here.
That is so beautiful Aliza!
He always gives us what we need, for only He really knows our heart.
Our Lord is such a romantic to us, His bride.
Have a blessed day.
Love, Maggie
Yes, Maggie… I love that. Thank you!
Aren’t you glad you asked Him WHY? There are many times He doesn’t reveal that answer in our circumstances – or not for a long time, but when He does, He leaves us in jaw-dropping Awe and Wonder of who He is and what He chooses to do for us!
I really am, Kathy. It totally astounded me. Thank you so much for your beautiful words.
Aliza, that is breathtakingly beautiful. I love so much that God is not scarce in His love, tossing us leftover bits so we barely scrape by. Maybe what I love most is that our God not only creates the fully functional (your internship in London) but also the fully beautiful (seeing your unspoken desire and orchestrating small miracles to reveal His lavish love). Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart, Aliza.
I absolutely love the way you phrased this, Pearl. Thank you for sharing it! No leftover bits for any of us. 🙂
Thank you for your inspiring story … It came just at the right time … I too, had to be temporarily displaced from my comfort zone so God could get my attention & let me know that he will never leave me or forsake me. That he has this in his hands & that, he is in control.
Thank you for reassuring me through your amazing story that God has us underneath his wings. When we are ready, he will push us gently into the wind so we can soar like eagles under his protection.
I love the picture of us being underneath His wings. It gives me such a sense of peace and calm — so I can just focus on resting beneath Him, and know He will take care of the rest.
Glad this came at the right time for you, Karen!
Thank you for sharing this story of the heart.. it was heard and appreciated.
You are so welcome, Krista. <3
I please unsubscribe me. I do like your posts, but I get so many various posts that I find I am not reading them all.
Thank you.
Liz Munson
Lmunson@rogers.com
I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear this today. Thank you!!
I am so glad to hear that, Cammie!
I love this. London holds a special place in my heart, as the Lord has given me a keen love for the UK. And the way you talk about God speaking to you – it is refreshing and relevant. He can and will use so many different things to speak. Like it is for you, it’s often times a picture or mini movie in my mind. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Kate — I love that you also love London (I can’t stress how much I want to go back!) and that God gives you the mini movies. I think that is just so creative of Him haha!
Aliza,
Like you I get distracted easily. It can be falling asleep, mind wandering, what ever. Spending good quality time with God & listening for His voice is hard. I have been in situations where I ask God why this why now? Even cry for help. It’s not immediate, but eventually He tells me He loves me. When mom was laid in bed with severe dementia-His love was having my dad get baptized-(Methodist/Presbyterian). That spoke volumes to me. When mom passed Dad came to church with my hubby & I some. He said the preacher was “the man who got him wet”. When dad got hospitalized for severe dementia/psych- the answer was I will heal him for a while. You can enjoy your father once again. In both cases God was saying I love you enough to give you these things. He has once again shown me His love by giving me a good job at a local hospital. It is more pay than my last part-time job. Praise God for His unending love.
Blessings 🙂
Wow Beth… what beautiful experiences of God’s faithful love. Thank you so much for sharing them with me.
Aliza,
Thank you for sharing your story. It brought to mind a similar situation I had with God. Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love to watch fireworks. Unfortunately we were flying in for a friends wedding in the evening and would probably miss the fireworks. But not with God. Not only did I get to see the fireworks but he got us upgraded on our flight, our flight landed much earlier than expected, and our cabbie managed to get through downtown traffic on 4th of July at nighttime without delay. We arrived at our hotel, checked in and immediately went out front. It overlooked San Diego bay. Not only did I not miss the fireworks display but it was such a clear night we could see 5 other nearby displays. I remember God telling me that this was all for me. It was the sweetest thing ever. I still cry when I think back on that time. ❤️ What a beautiful, amazing, humbling grand jesture of love.
Ohhhhh Rebecca, that is so cool. What a beautiful way for God to tell you how much He loves you. My favourite part of that is how personal it was to you! He is such a personal, kind, tender God. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Thank you for sharing your delightful story, Aliza, a memory you’ll carry close to your heart for the rest of your life. We sing for joy at the works of [God’s] hands”–in your behalf! He IS the God who crosses oceans to assure us of his love. Hallelujah!
I am just sobbing right now. This touched me so deeply. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, what a beautiful story, Aliza. Thank you so much for traveling across an ocean to hear His love, and then coming back home again to share it with us. All those miles were worth it! Thank you!