asbc seek devotionals 2025 2 - Flipbook - Page 82
DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL | ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
Day 39: A Complex
Challenge
MIN. RASHEEM ROOKE
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV
As God defines it, love is clear and unwavering—patient, kind, and selfless. But we
muddy its simplicity by complicating how we express it. Our insecurities, fears, and
misunderstandings add a kaleidoscope of colors to what should’ve been black-and-white,
turning love into something far more complex than it was meant to be.
Sometimes, we use love as leverage, withholding kindness when hurt or extending it
only when it benefits us. Other times, we fear that loving someone means condoning
their actions or compromising our values. These tensions create confusion, where love
becomes conditional, complicated, and unclear.
But God’s love offers clarity amid our confusion. It is a love that is unearned and
unwavering, not swayed by human flaws. His example calls us to strip away the
unnecessary colors we’ve added and return to love’s black-and-white essence…
selflessness, forgiveness, and grace.
To live out love is to choose clarity over confusion, even when it feels difficult. It’s about
anchoring ourselves in God’s definition of love and trusting Him to guide us through the
complexities we face.
JOURNAL
REFLECTIONS
In what “grey area” of your life can you
choose to express love more clearly this
week?
82
PRAYER
Lord, help me navigate love’s complexities. Guide me to
express Your pure love in challenging situations. Amen.
