Love That Lasts - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 17, 2026
“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, NIV).
Somehow, another season of sweetness has gone and passed. The Valentine’s goodies are marked down 50%, the candy shelves are empty, and Spring decorations fill shelves near and far. If you blink, you might not even know the holiday is here.
Our culture jumps from one season or holiday to the next without taking the time to celebrate or appreciate truly. Visit your local Hobby Lobby, and you’ll see what I mean (no shade, I love Hobby Lobby). Because after all the hearts and chocolates have barely arrived, it’s off to the races. And inside, we find ourselves asking: Why am I still empty inside? For a holiday full of “love,” why do I feel loveless?
Maybe today you’re feeling a little down...or let down. Maybe your Valentine’s Day didn’t go as planned, or all those things you envisioned never happened. Or, perhaps you’re celebrating a love that does feel real, no matter the day. Regardless, let’s pause and think about a love that never fades.
In 1 John 4:16, we read that God is love. “Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in them” (NIV). Song of Songs 2:4 and Romans 8:38-39 describe God’s character in similar fashions: “Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love” (Song of Songs 2:4, NIV). “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV). Why does all of this matter?
Because love that’s only celebrated on a holiday or contingent on circumstances or feelings, isn’t true love. Contrary to society, real love isn’t Valentine’s, candy, cards, roses, or mushy phrases. True and eternal love can only be experienced by knowing Jesus and having a personal, intimate relationship with Him. Love Himself is God. And God and His love are steady, unshakable, and individual. We learn to shift our focus from fleeting romantic gestures to eternal, soul-refreshing love.
1 John 4:19 defines this kind of love, God’s kind of love, this way: “We love because he first loved us” (NIV).
Though flowers, cards, and chocolates are all wonderful gestures (anytime of year), God’s enduring love is the only thing we can 100% trust to love us without fault. Reflecting on His love for us not only strengthens the love we have and share with those around us, but it also deepens our relationship with Him, restores what has been broken, and brings immense comfort when human love is complicated or seasonal.
Self-love rooted in God matters. Caring for your heart, boundaries, and soul matters. And though God’s tangible love is difficult to comprehend, that doesn’t mean we should forsake it or forget about it.
This week, take time to journal the answers to these questions:
“In what ways have I experienced God’s love this week, even in small, ordinary moments?”
“How can I share God’s love with the world?”
“Why is God’s love eternal and true?”
Then, challenge yourself to do one intentional act of love for yourself or someone else this week that mirrors this deeper kind of love—God’s love and care. It could be writing a note, spending quiet time in prayer, or doing a small act of service.
Friends, the love that lasts doesn’t come in a box, but in the quiet mornings, steady faith, and persistent relationship with the one who died to know you. Entering into a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus is the deepest measure of love we can experience, and He offers it freely to all. Accept that abundance, and rest in the assurance that God’s love is always with you.
Dear Jesus, in a world that has replaced real love with knock-offs and temporary means, help us look to you. Reveal more of your love to us, and allow us to share it with those around us. We love you, Lord, and we want to know and love you more. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Filipa Campos
Related Resource: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)
When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.
This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
