When love is put to the test, it is a moment of truth that reveals what we are truly made of. As a pastor, I have seen many couples face challenges that threaten to destroy their relationship. But even in the darkest night, one might just discern the possibility of dawn. And love therefore does what justice, freedom, power, truth, beauty and spirituality all do in their own ways: it raises questions, questions which point beyond which never ends and without which we are nothing. In 1 Corinthians 13:2, 8, 13, it says, "Love is the surest test of having life, as it has already been shown to be the test of being in the light." This is because love never fails. Whether there be prophecies, they will pass away; whether there be tongues, they will cease; whether there be knowledge, it will pass away. This is because we know imperfectly and we prophesy imperfectly but when perfect love is perfected in us, we will know fully, even as we are fully known.
As a husband and father, I can attest to the power of love in the face of adversity. My wife, Susan, and I have been married for 19 years, and we have faced our fair share of challenges. But through it all, our love for each other has been the anchor that has held us together. And it's not just romantic love that I'm talking about, but also the love I have for my children, Joshua and Rebecca. As a father, I have seen them face their own struggles and challenges, but through it all, our love for each other has been the constant that has seen us through.
In the midst of darkness and uncertainty, love is the light that shines through. It is the hope that gives us the strength to carry on, even when all seems lost. And it's not just a feeling, but a choice that we make every day. As the Bible says, "Love never fails." It is the surest test of having life, and it is the test of being in the light. When love is put to the test, it reveals what we are truly made of, and it is a moment of truth that can either destroy us or make us stronger. But with God's love guiding us, we can face anything that comes our way, and we can emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.