Amidst the laughter and words, it suddenly struck me that she had left the room. I went in search of her and saw that she had quietly tucked herself into bed. The lights were off.

I had played a prank on her. I had clearly crossed the line. She felt bad. And I felt terrible.

The next morning, she looked at me and smiled; reassured me that it was alright.

I on the other hand still felt awful. I did not know how to face her. The guilt in me took control. I kept low and looked elsewhere for as long as I could. Despite my reaction, came her big tight hugs, her loud infectious laugh and her usual jokes in which I somehow always figured. (smiles.)

I was ashamed. My mind began to mess with me. I assumed that she would want to stay away from me for a bit. So I did just that.

While I walked away from her, she stood right there and loved ‘on’ me.

This incident probably sounds like a silly affair to most of you, but it got me thinking.

Many a time, this is exactly how we are with God. We all have our share of mistakes and wrongs. Amidst it all the devil would want us to feel guilty, scared and ashamed of ourselves. He would want us to think that God would be better off without us for a bit. Well, here is what:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour 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, and always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)

You’d probably want to read that out loud to yourself again. I just did.

If I may add to that list- LOVE never walks away.

And you know what; the Bible also goes on to say that God is LOVE. (1 John 4:8)

God never leaves when you make a mistake. He doesn’t feel the need to step aside for some fresh air when you do wrong. It never even crosses His mind to give up on you let alone walk away.

Instead, He wants you, even more, when you are down and hurting.

Well this is exactly how Adam and Eve were with God. Of course, God knew Adam and Eve had sinned and yet He came down for his usual evening stroll that day. The Bible says that He called out for them. And they hid behind the trees in shame. (Genesis3:8-10)  God did not walk away when they sinned, but it was the guilt and shame in Adam and Eve that made them hide and walk away from God.

While man seeks reasons to love, God chooses to love regardless. Let us not forget that He first loved us when we were sinful and unclean. Somewhere between the day I played that prank on my friend and this very moment I realized and experienced that; LOVE always sticks around. And the devil would do anything in his control to make you think otherwise.

God is right there where He was with arms wide open. However big you think you messed up, He is still waiting for you!

Run to Him today.

I pray this day that you grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ. Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

God bless!

 Asha Mathew is an alumnus of Manipal University and is currently based in New Delhi where she works as a research analyst on foreign policy matters at the Centre for Airpower Studies. She is a God gifted author and a woman of faith.