At a time when our country is burning out of control with civil unrest, social media is lighting up with opinions and advice on what everyone needs to do to make things better. In this blog, I want to focus on love. I believe love can heal what is going on in our country today. Love can wash away a world of hurt. I believe in all situations, love wins.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

The Bible is very clear about love. Only God can change a human heart and fill it with His love. You can will change, protest for change, and demand change, but only God can bring real and lasting change and the peace that comes along with it. 

Only Jesus can give you a new heart and a new spirit. John 17:17

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8

Love wins.

We live in a fallen world. During these days, it is easy to get caught up with all that is wrong in our world. And there is plenty wrong. It is country against country. Political party against political party. Race against race. Brother against brother. But as Christians, we are to look higher.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

Christians, are we lifting up others? Are we edifying one another? Are we following God’s greatest commandments?

He answered, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”  Luke 10:27

Love wins.

God’s answer to our problems in America is simple.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. Martin Luther King

Love wins.

Last week and this week, I have had opportunities to go hiking with people I love. Last week was with my son Bradley. We hiked to Rainbow Falls in Jones Gap State Park. Rainbow Falls drops 100 feet over steep walls streaked with black and tan from the alternating layers of amphibolite gneiss, granitic gneiss, and mica schist. It is truly breathtaking as the water plummets into a pool at the base of the falls and then splashes, bubbles and swirls around the rocks and flies down the mountain.

This week I walked by the gentle streams of the nature trail at Hagood Mill with my dear friend, Tamela Salinas. The Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center is in Pickens, SC, and is the home of the historic Hagood Gristmill, on the National Register of Historic Places. There has been a grist mill on site since 1792. The mill is fully operational, and the trails surrounding the center are as peaceful and serene as you will find anywhere.

With both trips, we had an opportunity to linger by the water. I reflected on the goodness of God, and how only He can save us from ourselves and from the plans that Satan has to destroy us. It is God’s love that can and does make all the difference. Like the water washes over the rocks, it is only His love that can wash away all our hurt, pain, lies and sin.

Love wins.

There is a reason for the phrase, “peace like a river”.

For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees.  Isaiah 66:12

I love the song, The River, by Kim Hopper. We listened to this song on our nature outings, and I let its encouragement wash over me as we rested by the water.

“Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, we’re all searching for that peace that can fill us and then reveal to us that sweet forgiveness that we all need. Come on, and meet me down by the river, and let’s dive in like little children do. And let our troubles wash to the Father. He’ll wash us clean, and He’ll make us new.”  -The River, Kim Hopper

No matter what battles we are facing, may we never forget that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). 

Don’t lose heart. We know how this story ends.

Love wins.

Dear Lord: Thank You for Your great love for us. Without it, we could have no hope. During these dark days, pour Your love over our nation, and bring revival that will carry with it the only true and lasting change. Help us to trust You more, love You more, and love others more. Please heal our country and fill us with Your peace, unity and love. Amen

Please share your thoughts, experiences and comments with our readers. Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May God’s love wash over our land during these difficult days and bring us unity, peace and comfort as only He can.