Forever Loved, Forever Near

Intimacy With God Is Built on His Enduring Love

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 

His love endures forever.” 

Psalm 136:1

Intimacy with God does not begin with our devotion, our discipline, or our desire. It begins with His enduring love—a love older than creation, deeper than our failures, and stronger than anything that stands against us. Psalm 136 repeats the refrain “His love endures forever” twenty-six times, as if to soak our hearts in the truth that fellowship with God is rooted not in our performance but in His unfailing love. We draw near to God because He first drew near to us. As Jeremiah reminds us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).

God’s steadfast love is not an abstract concept; it is written into the very story of Scripture and embodied in the life of Jesus. The psalmist celebrates God’s wonders—creation, deliverance, and daily provision—each one a signpost pointing to a God who never lets go. In the New Testament, that same love becomes tangible: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son” (1 John 4:10). John’s entire message of fellowship—“that you also may have fellowship with us… and with the Father and His Son” (1 John 1:3)—rests on this astonishing truth: the God who is love invites us into shared life with Himself. Henry Nouwen captures it well: “The more I trust God’s unconditional love, the more my fear subsides, and my heart opens to intimacy.” Only in that love do our restless hearts finally find their home.

We can walk through uncertainty without fear, because His love does not change with our circumstances. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). God’s love is the one unshakable constant in a changing world—the one foundation firm enough to build our whole lives upon. Intimacy with God grows as we respond to this faithful love with gratitude, trust, and surrendered hearts. As we rest in His constancy, our defenses soften, our fears diminish, and our desire for His presence deepens. His enduring love invites us not merely to believe in Him, but to draw near—to walk with Him moment by moment, to speak with Him openly, and to let His love shape who we are and how we live. Ultimately, every step toward intimacy begins with this simple truth: we are already loved with a love that will never fail.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that Your love endures forever. Draw us deeper into Your heart, teach us to walk in Your light, and let our fellowship with You be rooted in Your steadfast love. Help us trust, rest, and rejoice in the love that never fails. Amen.