Love Jesus

Fall in love. Surrounding us constantly are many ‘love stories’. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy marries girl. That’s how it always goes, right? Is that how God wants it to go? Dating? What’s that about? Everyone is always looking for more and that more is usually love. Not necessarily romance, but all of us desire to be in love with a friend, family, boyfriend, or girlfriend. Jesus is yearning for us to fall in love with Him. In my life, there are times that I feel alone. Not enough friends. Not enough family. Not enough… Just not enough. When I feel this way I try to make the most of my situation, but when it continues I begin to lose hope and become sad that I am alone. James 1:2 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance.” University of Mary’s President Father Shea told me once in a speech, “It is when we are alone that we find Jesus Christ.” The physical abuse that Jesus faced when he was crucified was only half of the pain he experienced. He was abandoned by everyone he had ever loved; all of his friends left him and denied ever being associated with him. Can you imagine that, ALL of your friends betraying you? His emotional sorrow and agony far surpassed his physical pain. It has been a desire in my life for a long time to know Jesus more. I pray that I may fully comprehend what he did for me, that I may understand the extent of the pain he experienced for me. The next moment I am lamenting because I am lonely. However, it is when we are lonely that we experience Jesus’ pain. It is in our loneliness that we can celebrate and use that time to grow closer to Jesus because he knows how we feel and we know a little bit more of how he felt when he DIED FOR US. It is my goal in my own life and my challenge to all of you, especially as you get older; stop searching for love. It is right in front of you. Jesus wants you to search for Him, He is desperate for you to fall madly and passionately and forever in Love with him. Make Jesus all you want. Make him everything you need. Jesus is the beginning and the end. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Strive to want NOTHING, but Jesus Christ. The next time you are alone, be grateful because it is in that loneliness that Jesus Christ comes alive.
-by Tara Ness