Debb Hackett

Always, by Catherine Hutton

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV

I’m in need of a little reminder of the ‘always’ nature of God who is Love. Spiritually, these times feel pretty inter-testamental. I miss hands-on prayer and sweaty rooms packed with worshippers and the feeling of unity in the proximity we share in worship and fellowship when we are all together. I’m finding myself grumpy about too many things. This week, I’m especially grumpy about personal post-covid brain fog, fatigue, voice-strain and insomnia. Being grumpy is an English Understatement for being moody and bad to deal with… it is not a worthy feeling, it seeks indulgence and does not warrant sympathy. These are days when living out a Loving faith seems beyond me.

The ‘always’ nature of God is a fantastic grounding point for me in my personal pity party. My feelings may be real and present but they are not True and Eternal. My feelings are felt and acknowledged but they can’t prescribe a limit to my Salvation. Feelings, overwhelming and all-encompassing as they might be are not my all in all. They pass and change, just as all created things do. The truth is that I have God. Not as an ornament on my shelf or a card in my wallet. Having God is to be permanently transformed through his Love which is deep and life-altering, fruiting and flowering in gifts that show our spiritual DNA. This is always. Love always…

A PROMISE of Love

I’ve often read this passage as instruction. Loving God means I must therefore put a ton of effort into protecting, trusting, hopefulness, persevering and so on. Today, I see that this passage is a promise: However I feel, whatever the spiritual terrain I am trudging or dancing through – it is Love which will always protect me, always gift me with trust and trustworthiness. Love will always be hope and Love will persevere.

I’m reminded that ‘always’ also describes how God travelled with the children of Israel throughout the years, protecting, inspiring trust, hope and persevering. This Love is ultimately revealed in the Cross of Jesus.

I’m reminded again of my own fickleness and tendency to being grumpy and bad to deal with. Even so, God’s Love in me always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres… 

I’m not judging my behaviour against this passage as a measure of my faith any longer, but today I am embracing and choosing to receive its promise. His Truth in me is always there, today’s feelings will pass and God’s Love remains.

Today, I am recognising the ‘always’ of God’s Love in my inner being. Even though the present times of church and society are less than ideal it is God himself who, unchanged by society and its struggles, gifts me with his living presence. He alone protects my spirit and enables me to trust his goodness and faithfulness in bringing me to this place. The yearning for more of God in my life is a stirring of my spirit which can lead to discontent or to trust. I have God, so I am able to trust; it is within the nature of his Love.

I’m loving the ‘always’ nature of God. It is strong and secure. It is sufficient and generous. Better than hot tea, toasted crumpets and thick socks on a crisp autumn morning. God’s ‘always’ builds his Love from within us so that our terrain becomes rich with the display of his likeness. 

About Catherine…