God’s Love Transforms The Way We Love Each Other
Karin Hadadan is the best-selling author of Beauty in the Stillness, which has been praised for helping readers “unravel the God self that is truly within you,” guiding them to find deeper meaning in life. Here, she underscores how God’s unconditional love can lead us toward a life of kindness, patience, and gratitude for those in our lives.
The true north star of unconditional love is found in how God loves each of us.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
This passage is not merely an articulation of what authentic love is and isn’t—it provides a measuring stick for our relationships and our hearts toward others, including ourselves.
Our cultural misunderstandings about love have diverted us from God’s true nature. We expect to receive as much as we give. We equate possessiveness or jealousy with passionate devotion. We believe true love means never experiencing conflict, maintaining constant happiness, or having our needs anticipated without communication.
Yet the selfless nature of authentic love lies in its beautiful duality—it is both strong (bearing, enduring) and vulnerable (believing, hoping). Within this honest dichotomy, love expresses itself through both action and restraint, through giving and receiving with grace.
When we challenge our self-centered tendencies and cultural misconceptions, we arrive at a profound truth—this passage articulates not only the nature of love itself but also the very character of God. Since God is love, and His Spirit dwells within believers, the resources to love authentically are already available to us.
As we measure our relationships against this divine standard, we transform the energy, dynamics, and depth of our connections with everyone around us, reflecting God’s perfect love to an imperfect world.
God’s perfect and unconditional love forms the foundation of genuine faith. Even when undeserved, His love remains steadfast, offering both comfort and a model for how we are called to love others. Recognizing where our own love falls short—through impatience, anger, or comparison—becomes an opportunity for growth rather than shame. True love, as God defines it, extends beyond emotion and into action; it is a daily choice to see others through His eyes, offering grace and compassion freely.
By allowing divine love to transform our perspective, we begin to reflect His heart in the way we relate, forgive, and serve. Every relationship becomes both a blessing and a classroom where we learn to embody love more authentically, mirroring the boundless care that God continually pours into us.
