1 Though I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,  but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Rejoice with the Truth

God, who is perfect love, does not rejoice when bad things happen. But He rejoices when we choose to believe what is true during difficult seasons. What truths do we need to remember when tragedy touches us? God is good, He is kind and loving.He seeks to bless us with His kindness and grace. He promises to use all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose. This does not mean all things are good, but in the end they will be used for good. 

The word rejoices used in this verse comes from the Greek word “sygchairō” to take part in another’s joy. In short, God is delighted when we are delighted with Him about all that is good, true, lovely and of good report, and we choose to trust Him when things are not.

Time of Tragedy

Many years ago this was a lesson that I struggled with. Tragedy struck my family. My second child, my daughter Larissa, was born with a heart defect and lived for only 11 days. That following year was the toughest of my life. How could a kind God allow my daughter to die? 

Through the course of that year, God showered us with kindness in so many ways — through the tangible help of others, through encouragement in the toughest situations, by speaking to my heart, in the prayers and hugs of so many. I could not deny He was working.

Ultimately what I realized is that we live out our earthly lives in a world marred by sin, which spills over in our lives. It does not, however, change the character of God. He is who He says He is. Jesus lived and died to fix the problem of sin. That battle has been won and will be redeemed at His second coming. In the meantime, we trust that God will bring good out of every situation — good or bad. And He has with my daughter.

God is truth and love so we can rest in His love today and forever. Be loved, Beloved.