Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5 NKJV

There are so many blessings in life that make me smile. Ice cream. A child’s giggle. Music. A kiss. And strawberries. 

Strawberries remind me of my late mother-in-law who loved to tell funny stories, loved her family, and loved Jesus. She also loved fresh, local-grown strawberries in the spring. Whenever I see them in the produce aisle now—with their heart shape, sugary sweetness, and happy red color—they speak to me of her love.

If you had asked her to describe her relationship with Jesus in one word, I’m sure she would have said “love.” She loved her Lord, glorified Him in worship, and overflowed with His love to all those around her. She also loved to read her Bible and found great solace in His promises there.

Throughout God’s word, we learn a lot about His love for us as well as His commandments to love others. The apostle Paul gives us a great definition of this agape love in 1 Corinthians 13. He walks us through a litany of its beautiful attributes: patient, kind, not envious, not prideful or arrogant, not rude or provoked, avoiding evil and sin, and rejoicing in truth.

All those descriptions are covered by a single banner—selflessness. When we love others as Jesus does, we must sacrifice ourselves and our own agendas. It’s the only way we can imitate His love for us, demonstrated by His death on the cross.

But how does this relate to hope? Why would love be a precursor for a hopeful life? When we sacrifice ourselves as Jesus did, giving up our wishes, dreams, even our lives to bless others, there may be high costs to pay in pain and suffering. Where is the hope in that?

The apostle John takes us to ground-floor reality—that God Himself is love. In the book of 1 John, he declares that God is the source of all love. The actions, purposes, and gifts from His Son, Jesus, are based on His eternal love for us. 

God’s promises, too, are bound together with love. He offers us His grace, mercy, heaven, abundant life, and presence. And, if God is the source of love, we can trust Him to keep His word. He is faithful and true in keeping His covenant. His love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things…and it never fails.

Without God, we have no love and no hope. With Him, we have boundless love and hope for where He will lead us, ultimately to His mansion in heaven. 

What a wonderful assurance! We don’t have to rely on our own strength or works to earn His love. We will stumble and fall, but He is the loving Father who lifts us back upon His path. He has set His heart on us. And so, we have hope for our present life as well as the life to come. His love confirms it.

In verse 4:19, John says our love is simply a response to His—“We love Him because He first loved us.”

Friend, I hope you already know God’s great love, poured out in your heart by His Holy Spirit. Let the truth in Scripture settle into your soul, that the Lord of the Universe loves you so much that He has given His beloved Son to purchase a place for you in eternity.

My mother-in-law found her hope of heaven in the love of Christ. Knowing she was one of His beloved children, secured in His promises, she never wavered in her hope of joining Jesus and living with Him forever. She passed into His loving arms filled with that peace.

I imagine she is at the banqueting table with Jesus, laughing with joy in His unlimited love around her. I’m hopeful, too, that there’s a great big bowl of red-ripe strawberries at her place.

Father God, it is impossible for me to fully comprehend Your truth…how You sent Your Son to die for me, out of Your deep love for my sin-wrecked soul. I fall at Your feet in wonder, joy, and love for You. Please help me day by day to love You more, to live in thankfulness, and to share Your amazing love with others who haven’t experienced it yet. Please fill me up with Your Holy Spirit that I may pour out Your grace to others. In the loving name of Jesus, Amen.

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2026 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #love #loveofChrist #loveofGod #eternallove #amazinglove #HolySpirit #strawberries #heaven #hope