Jesus loves you. Yes…you. Even in your mess—even in your fickle emotions and failures—the Son of God loves you.

Friend, the love Jesus has for you is not the love we humans commonly speak of. It’s not the love of Hallmark or Disney movies. It’s not the love that is present one day and gone the next. Jesus’s love for you is a covenantal, electing love. He loved you before the world was created. He has always loved you.

And it’s not because you—we—are so lovable. To the contrary, we are certainly unlovable. We mess up, we fail, we trip, we deceive, we sin. And not only against others but, most importantly, against God. And yet, even in our sin, He loves us. Despite our issues, He loves us.

There’s nothing greater than this truth. The love of Jesus ought to compel us to do two things. One, we must have a rock solid assurance of His love and care for us according to the testimony of Scripture. Two, His love for us should motivate us to keep moving, continue striving, push forward.

Friend, no matter the trial, no matter the temptation, no matter the suffering—you can be assured that Jesus, your friend and Savior, loves you.