Love was made for adversity

Love was made for Adversity

Love is not really love until it can be demonstrated in difficult & dark times. 
The “other thing” is just strong affection towards another person.  Love is tested by fire, by trials, in disagreements, and angry moments. That is love. Does love still prove to be kind, patient, and longsuffering in the midst of life? If not, love will continue to be tried until it is perfected into LOVE. The reality of love is that it consists of hard work, such as the building of one’s character, receiving ovations in music or achieving triumphs in sports.Love must go through seasons of trial.  Love must go through seasons of testing. Love is not just roses and sweet dates, and hugs and kisses. The core of love is defined in moments of brokenness, moments of anger and of bitterness. If we can learn to love when we least want to, then we have mastered it. According to Webster’s Dictionary, love can be described as a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, or a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. But what if those feelings are not there? Does that mean love no longer exists? Love cannot be limited to our feelings; it must be a conscious decision to live beyond ourselves. 

This is how Love is described in Scripture, 1 Corinthians 13 says love is patient: [meaning during trying times of waiting, love is patient. Love is patient with people and circumstances. When Love has made a decision, it waits.] Love is kind, [which is defined as nice - good - gentle - amiable - benign - friendly.] Love does not envy, [so love's eyes are fixed on what it has, it is not continuously comparing itself to others around it.] Love does not boast. Love can be thankful for what it is and that it exists, however, Love does not boast. Love is not proud, [Love can be corrected, it is not haughty - arrogant - lofty - or conceited. Love recognizes that the good days that it has are because of the Grace of God. Love understands the work necessary to maintain itself; therefore it knows not to boast.] Love does not dishonor others: [Love always speaks well of people, and always sees the best in people. Love does not lash out in hurtful words. Love honors others.] Love is not self- seeking: [Love does not enter into “love” for its own benefit; Love puts others first, Love lays down its life for its friends.] Love is not easily angered: [Love has self control; Love takes time to listen; Love does not lash out, does not speak in loud voices; Love does not anger easily.] Love keeps no record of wrongs. [Love forgives easily and moves on.]  Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.  Love never fails.

  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  If Love never fails, and we have failed at "love", maybe, it was not True Love! There are things we think are love! And probably it was not love that failed; it was us. We were unable to wait, or we boasted, or were angered easily, right? But if ever we have had a 1 Corinthians 13 type of love and it did not work, maybe it was us. Maybe we failed and not Love, because Love is tried in adversity; it is forged by fires and birthed through pain, if it persists. Love can be made perfect, and it makes us better. Love is not love until it has made it through adversity. Or at least I think so :-) 
 .