I was listening to Marty in the morning on Lyric FM radio recently, as I often do, a small refuge from the relentless weight of toxic news, the sorrow, hate and division that seem to echo endlessly through our world. And then a song played, \u201cWhere Is the Love?\u201d by Roberta Flack. It felt less like music and more like a prayer drifting through the room. Because isn\u2019t that the question so many of us are carrying right now? Where is the love in a world that feels so broken, so wounded, so exhausted? Where is the love in the cruelty, the wars, the injustice, the loneliness, the hate, the racism, the fear? And perhaps most tender of all, where is God\u2019s love in the midst of it all?<\/p>\n
A broken world and a faithful God<\/p>\n
The world is broken. Scripture never pretends otherwise. Human sin, selfishness, pride, fear, hate and trauma have fractured our relationships with God, with one another, and even with ourselves. We see the fruit of that brokenness everywhere such as division instead of unity, judgment instead of mercy, self-protection instead of compassion. Yet here is the holy paradox: God\u2019s love has not diminished, even when the world has. \u201cThe Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.\u201d Psalm 34:18. God is not distant from our pain. He is not indifferent to our suffering. He is not absent from the chaos. In fact, Scripture tells us that He draws closer to those who are hurting.<\/p>\n
When love feels scarce, it is not because God has withdrawn but because His love is so often obscured by fear, woundedness, and the noise of the world. Love is one of the most powerful forces in human existence. It shapes our relationships, influences our decisions, and defines how we see one another. From family bonds to friendships, from marriage to compassion for strangers, love lies at the heart of every meaningful connection. And yet, in a world marked by selfishness, hatred, and division, true love can feel rare. Part of the reason is that we have confused love with feeling, attraction, affection, chemistry, convenience. But Scripture tells us something far deeper. Love is not merely an emotion. It is a choice, a commitment, a way of life. \u201cLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13:4. God’s love is steady in trial, humble in strength, and selfless in action. It seeks the good of the other, even when it costs something.<\/p>\n
What love really is (and what it is not)<\/p>\n
The world often speaks of love as a feeling, fleeting, conditional, transactional. But God\u2019s love is something altogether different. It is Agape love which is unconditional, sacrificial, self-giving. \u201cGod demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u201d Romans 5:8.<\/p>\n
This love does not wait for us to be worthy. It does not withdraw when we fail. It does not depend on perfection or performance. And yet, in a culture shaped by ego, power, and self-interest, this kind of love can feel rare, even radical. \u201cWhoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8. Every genuine expression of love flows from Him. We do not manufacture love, we receive it, and then reflect it. God\u2019s love is unconditional. It is not based on our performance, perfection, or worthiness. Even in our brokenness, He loves us faithfully and fiercely. And nowhere is that love more clearly revealed than in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n