3/15/25 Loving Others Even When It’s Hard
- Fr. Patrick Bush
- Mar 15
- 2 min read
Takeaway: Love is patient, kind, and sacrificial.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, I come before You with a heart open to Your Word. Speak to me through this time of devotion and fill me with Your wisdom, peace, and strength. Help me to trust You more deeply and live out my faith with boldness. May Your presence guide me and transform me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection
Love sounds beautiful and poetic when we read 1 Corinthians 13 at weddings or in devotionals, but in reality, loving others—especially when it’s hard—is difficult. Love is easy when it’s reciprocated. It’s easy to be patient with a kind person, to be generous with someone who appreciates us, or to be forgiving when the offense is small. But what about the moments when patience wears thin? When someone wounds us deeply? When love is met with indifference, resentment, or even hostility?
Jesus calls us to love—not just when it’s convenient, but when it costs us something. Love is patient and kind, even when the other person is frustrating. It does not keep a record of wrongs, even when we feel justified in doing so. It perseveres, even when we are exhausted.
Loving others when it’s hard is not about ignoring the pain they may have caused or excusing harmful behavior. Instead, it’s about choosing to love with the same grace Christ has shown us. It means forgiving even when we don’t feel like it, serving even when we’re tired, and showing kindness even when it’s undeserved.
Question
Who in your life is difficult to love right now?
Application
• Set Healthy Boundaries. Loving others does not mean allowing yourself to be mistreated. Love includes truth, wisdom, and self-respect.
• Choose Patience. When someone frustrates you, pause before reacting. Ask, “How would Christ respond?”
• Keep No Record of Wrongs. Release the weight of past grievances. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself as much as the other person.
Closing Prayer
Father, loving others is not always easy, but I want to love as You love. Fill my heart with patience, kindness, and grace. Help me to see others through Your eyes and to reflect Your love even when it’s hard. Give me the strength to love without conditions. Amen.
Don’t forget to like and leave a comment letting us know that you are reading.
Comments