When February 14th rolls around each year, chocolate hearts and fragrant flowers promise us a day full of warm and fuzzy feelings. Cheesy cards and red roses fill the stores, reminding us all that love is in the air (or at least it should be). And while a day spent eating candy and passing out love notes sounds fun on the surface, we all know that Valentine’s Day can often be an unwelcome holiday, regardless of your relationship status.
Whether you’re single, dating, engaged, or married, Valentine’s Day is full of expectations. The perfect boyfriend or husband, the most romantic date night, the fanciest box of chocolate, the most instagrammable Galentine’s party—these are just a few of the many expectations we place on ourselves (and others) for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, amidst all of these expectations, Valentine’s Day can leave many of us feeling disappointed by the end of the day.
I’ve had good Valentine’s Days and I’ve been broken up with on Valentine’s Day. Either way God was there, His love abiding and constant.Through the good and the heartbreaking, I learned that whether I had the best Valentine’s Day or the worst, the love of God would never fail me. And the same goes for you. No matter how today is going, whether it’s another hard Valentine’s Day or one full of answered prayers, there is one love that remains constant through them all and His name is Jesus Christ.
As women of God, our hope isn’t in flowers or chocolate or a fancy night out. And it’s not in finding or marrying our perfect valentine. Our hope, our only true hope, is in Jesus Christ and the love He displayed for us on the cross. No amount of wooing or pursuing from an earthly love will ever satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. There’s only one place to set our hope that will never disappoint, because there’s only one Person who will never disappoint us. Only Jesus can love us perfectly! Valentine's Day might let you down, but the unfailing love of God never will.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14 NIV)
Over and over again in the Psalms, God’s love is referred to as unfailing. Through every emotion and circumstance—through joy and triumph and through pain and heartbreak—the psalmists put their hope in the unfailing love of God, and we get to do the same. Through joyous Valentine’s Days and painful ones alike, we have hope in the unfailing love of God—hope that no matter what life brings our way, the love of God will always be enough.
“The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” (Psalm 147:11 NIV)
So if you’re having a difficult Valentine’s Day, know you’re not alone, and let me encourage you with this: Valentine’s Day is one day out of 365, and it doesn’t define you. Sister, your worth is not measured by whether or not you receive flowers and a box of chocolate today. You are not unloved if you don’t have a dinner reservation or a date to dress up for. As a daughter of God, you are loved simply because you are His.
Whether you have plans tonight or not, someone is waiting to meet with you. In fact, He’s waiting to meet with you every day, longing to reveal more about Himself to you, and ready to sweep you off your feet with His thoughtful attention to detail.
Whether you have a Valentine or not, His love remains the same. God’s unfailing love pursues you like every day is Valentine’s Day.
And to the sister who’s celebrating a long-awaited Valentine’s Day full of answered prayers, don’t forget to give all the glory to your first Love, the One who delights in your joy! Keep your hope firmly placed in His hands, even while you hold the hand of your beloved.
And at the end of the day, whether you feel disappointed by unmet expectations or you feel thankful for answered prayers, there is a God in heaven who loves you perfectly with an unfailing love, no matter how your Valentine’s Day turns out.
your sister,
Taylor
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