Hope for the Hurting Heart
You Are Loved
By Beverly and David Sedlacek
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HEART SCAN
Imagine these words being spoken to you: “I love you; I need you; I want you, no matter what condition you are in. Please give me your heart and I will take care of it. I will guard it safely.”

God is love; everything God does for us is through the eyes of love. Zechariah 2:8 paints a beautiful picture of His love for us. We are the “apple of His eye.”

  1. How does it feel to know that you are loved unconditionally, despite your pain, what you have done, and how broken and hurting you are?
  2. Review your life. How have you seen God’s love demonstrated?
What does love look like to you?
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RESEARCH
  • 1 John 4:16
  • John 3:16
  • Jeremiah 31:3
  • Isaiah 43:4
  • 1 John 4:9-10
  • Romans 8:31-38
  • Romans 5:8
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RESEARCH
  • 1 John 4:16
  • John 3:16
  • Jeremiah 31:3
  • Isaiah 43:4
  • 1 John 4:9-10
  • Romans 8:31-38
  • Romans 5:8
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DISCOVERY
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GOD’S LOVE ACTS
Read Jeremiah 31:3.
As you review your life, how have you seen God’s love drawing you to Him?

Read Romans 5:8.
God demonstrates His love for you while you are broken, in pain, and doing the things to help suppress the pain (sex, drugs, alcohol, pornography etc.).

How can you respond to such a love?

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GOD’S LOVE IS PERSONAL
Read Galatians 2:20.
Jesus loves you and gave Himself for you. Let that sink in for a moment. He loves you and emphasizes that He gave His life for you: so that you can be happy, so that you can have a better life, so your brokenness may be healed, so that you can become what He created you to be. God’s love for you is personal.

  1. How willing are you to make loving sacrifices in your relationships with others right now?
  2. What does your willingness to do so show about the way you see and define love?
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GOD’S LOVE IS ETERNAL AND UNCONDITIONAL
Read Romans 8:37-38 and John 13:1.

  1. What challenges in your life right now are causing you to question the love of God?
  2. According to the Scriptures you read, how would you counter those doubts?
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GOD LOVE MOTIVATES US
Read 2 Corinthians 5:14.

  1. What motivates you?
  2. What guides your major decisions?
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REFLECT
Love is a powerful motivator. For the people we love we are willing to fight, defend and die for them. For the people we love we are willing to do whatever it takes to assure their safety and wellbeing. Why? Because of love. The love of God makes us treat everyone with kindness and justly. The love of God makes us help others when they are down and offer support when discouraged. This love is available to you today. All you have to do is ask God to help you develop this type of love.
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THE CHALLENGE
In the next week, find the opportunities to demonstrate the love of God to someone.
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PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for loving me even at times when I may feel unlovable. Thank you for being patient with me and accepting me despite my mistakes. Help me to love others the same way You love me and help me to be motivated by Your love and compassion toward others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAVID SEDLACEK, PHD, LMSW, CFLE, AND WIFE BEVERLY SEDLACEK, DNP, PMHCNS-BC, are a counseling, therapy and educational team that operates Into His Rest Ministries, Huntsville, Alabama.