The most difficult love to express isn’t toward those who love you back. You can naturally give affection to people who do loving things to you.

Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him and He still called Judas a friend. Crowds wanted to be with Jesus; God gave authority for only 12 to keep close. Jesus picked Judas to be in His circle.

In this day, we make decisions that go against God and He still reaches down from Heaven with a hug.

Love goes beyond what you can do on your own and leans on the supernatural strength to serve someone you don’t have feelings for anymore.

Love will reach out with respect when their decision was to reject you. Love can sit across the table holding a hand that stirs up hurt.

You might have a hard time loving like this because you’re afraid it will take away the perceived control you have on your life. Maybe you still look to your circumstances to satisfy you.

You might say that forgiving someone looks more like permission than punishment or a reason to change. It could be difficult to extend this kind of love when you still question God’s love for your mistakes.

When you can’t sit across the table from your enemy and share a glass of wine or a basket of bread with deep love for this other soul, you are saying that the hurt is more than what Jesus can restore and what was taken from you God could never replace.

When you cannot love your enemy as a friend, you give more power and credence to the pain of a man’s hand than the power of God’s strong arm.

No matter what you choose, the Truth is that you cannot lose anything God has given you. No one can move you from the place God has in store for you. The enemy might put on the pressure, but he cannot steal your joy or peace or love if you’re unwilling to hand it over.

Bottom line: the enemy is not flesh and blood. This is spiritual. The powers of darkness are battling to bring you down from this place of love. Satan wants to strip you of Jesus. The devil shows up in the flesh and wants to control your feelings.

Let these difficult situations draw you to surrender to God’s Will, which is to love. Pray for the desire, the words, and the walk to extend forgiveness and mercy in light of your pain.

This isn’t self-empowerment. It’s not about building yourself up by declaring your own strength and unending love. God wants you to recognize that you are weak and that you trust Him for help.

When emotions are unbearable and the situation seems impossible, ask for the strength of Jesus to show up in your hands and feet with an embrace for the enemy. Invite your adversary to the table and let this love of Jesus wash away any brokenness with His supernatural love.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:27-36)