You Are God’s Beloved
My husband and I wrote our wedding vows, I started mine with the word “Beloved” to address him.
I realize it’s not that special or unique. Likely thousands of couples include the word “beloved” in their wedding vows. But have you ever considered why? Have you ever really considered what the word “beloved” means?
Dearly loved. Unconditional love. Worthy of love.
This kind of love is opposite of what the world teaches us about love.
Love is earned. Love isn’t deserved. Love has boundaries.
But God shows us the opposite of this.
When I had my daughter, I remember going in for her 6-month appointment complaining to my pediatrician that she always wanted to be held. I couldn’t set her down or she would cry. It was hard for me to get anything done because I was constantly holding her.
His response at the time frustrated me because it wasn’t any practical advice, but his words stuck with me. He told me, “She’s God’s beloved.” It’s the way she was! She was cautious, wanted love and attention, didn’t want to be set down. Although my love for her doesn’t come close to the Father’s love for her, it’s the same – unconditional and constant.
We can’t carry our babies or even ourselves 24/7, but thankfully God can. He doesn’t tire when He holds us. He doesn’t get frustrated or annoyed when we cry out to Him. In fact, He DELIGHTS in this. Because we are his BELOVED. Song of Solomon 2:4 says:
Let him lead me to the banquet hall and let his banner over me be love.
Let the sweet promises of that verse be in your heart. Mediate on it. You are His Beloved.
And we don’t want you to forget it. We’d tattoo it across your forehead, if we could. Instead, we made shirts. These shirts were designed with His banner in mind – to be a constant reminder to you, and all who see it on you, of the “kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1-2 ESV
Nicole resides in the East Bay Area where she works in private practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She is a Mom of two and serves alongside her beloved husband in their local church. Most recently she's devoted her time to cleft and craniofacial awareness, education and interventions when her second daughter was unexpectedly diagnosed with a cleft palate at one week old. She completed both her bachelor's degree and her dietetic internship at California State University, Chico, where she was also a NCAA cross country and track athlete. Through those experiences, God prompted her to help people of all shapes and sizes discover health, body peace and acceptance through the unconditional love of Jesus. Nicole most enjoys spending time around a table and eating delicious food with the people she loves.
