Biblical Answer

Dismantling Barriers to Showing Love

As we seek to show love to those around us, it's essential to recognize that our emotions can sometimes get in the way. When we're feeling stuck, it's easy to let our emotions dictate our actions, leading to a lack of love and affection towards others. However, the Bible teaches us that love is a choice, not just a feeling. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, it's written, "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." This passage reminds us that love is a deliberate choice that we can make, even when our emotions are not cooperating.

To dismantle the barriers that prevent us from showing love, we need to focus on the actions of love rather than just the feelings. As the passage above suggests, love is a choice that we can make, and it's essential to prioritize the actions of love, such as greeting, praying, listening, and touching others. When we focus on these actions, we begin to establish a sense of love and affection towards others, even when our emotions are not in sync. This is because, as C. S. Lewis said, "If you stress the action of love over the feeling, you enhance and establish the feeling." By prioritizing the actions of love, we can begin to break down the barriers that prevent us from showing love to others.

Ultimately, the key to showing love to others is to recognize that our true needs can only be met in and by God. When we try to find our fulfillment in human relationships, we can become stuck in our emotions and struggle to show love to others. However, when we recognize that our true needs are met in God, we can begin to see others as God sees them - as beloved children who are worthy of love and affection. By prioritizing the actions of love and recognizing that our true needs are met in God, we can dismantle the barriers that prevent us from showing love to others and live a life that reflects the love of God.