Oh to be Loved

A few weeks ago, all of the international interns gathered together in Naperville, IL for a training conference. My Ghana team went to that conference last year, and I was so excited to return to the familiar hotel and activities. I was most excited for Page CXVI, the band that leads worship at the conference. The band remakes hymns, and I love their music. I connect with it. You should check it out. Seriously. 

Worship was hands-down my favorite part of the conference (outside of simply spending time with my Expedition team). One of the songs we sang was "Oh to be Loved by Jesus." The lyrics hit home, and the song has been stuck in my head off and on ever since. The song says:

Oh to be loved by Jesus

Oh to be loved by Him

Oh to have joy and peace within

Oh to be loved by Him

He knows the names of my sorrows

He knows the names of my fears

Why should I let them bother me

For I know he is near

Oh to be loved by Jesus

Oh to be loved by Him

Oh to have joy and peace within

Oh to be loved by Him

And if no other will love me

In this life I own

There'd be no love I would long for

I know I am His own

Oh to be loved by Jesus

Oh to be loved by Jesus

Oh to be loved by Jesus

I love that Jesus knows the names of my sorrows and the names of my fears. He gets me. That gives me a whole lot of joy and peace. Jesus understands, and he's still near to me.

The next verse also reminds my heart of some good truth. You see, I so badly want to someday be married. I want some other to love me in this life. But I know that that's not necessary. The love of Jesus is enough. I don't need to long for anything else. I belong to Him. That's way more than enough! 

And I find a lot of comfort in those truths as I face my fears of change while remaining single. Oh to be loved by Jesus. It's a beautiful thing. And I will cling to that beauty in my sorrows, fears, singleness, and in everything else. And that life-changing love will give me an abundance of joy and peace.