Love Hurts

By: John Carrigan

Thursday, July 17, 2025

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote this famous line, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Love brings us hope and joy, but a lost love is painful. Tennyson was telling us the pain of love lost is worth it. That concept reminds us that Jesus loved us so much, He endured the pain and suffering of the cross to give us the joy of our salvation. But finding joy in our suffering is a hard thing to grasp. It can only be understood supernaturally, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Tennyson was a believer, and he wrote those famous words after losing a close friend at a young age. He was grieving, but he was also grateful to have experienced love in a spiritual way.

Our love is usually focused on people, but , the people we love may hurt us, either intentionally or unintentionally. When we love someone, we must choose how we will react to their actions, words, and inactions. If their actions don't please us, unless we're careful, we may react with harsh words and anger. But hurt is a feeling, and Christ followers don’t live by their feelings, we live by the word of God. Our heart is important, but it can't rule our actions or our minds. Remember, true love isn't a feeling, it's a decision!

Yesterday, I was given permission to place a few Gospel tracts in a local restaurant. The tract's title was “Are you a good person?” A customer asked me what I was doing, so I explained the gospel message found in those tracts. Then, she shared a story with me about going to a church and being hurt by "the Christians there". She told me she no longer goes to church and said, "I've got my Bible, and I've got Jesus, so that's enough."

I told her I was sorry she endured that, and the people who hurt her weren't representing Jesus very well. I agreed that Jesus is enough, but I reminded her that Jesus told us to love one another. I also reminded her God's Word says believers must be in close fellowship with each other (Hebrews 10:25). Of course we need Jesus, but we need each other too! I suggested perhaps she just hadn’t found the right church... We prayed together and I asked the Lord to heal her past hurts.

If you struggle with past hurts of unforgiveness, ask God to heal you. Don't let past hurts weigh you down, lay them at Jesus' feet!