Quick! If I say the word “love,” what pops into your mind?

Candy hearts? A romantic candlelit dinner? Maybe a bouquet of beautiful red roses? For years, Valentine’s Day has shaped our idea of love, packaging it in chocolates, balloons, and rom-coms.

I grew up watching Disney movies where the prince and princess always ended up kissing under fireworks. And let’s be honest, even as a 20-something woman, I still get that serotonin boost from a good romantic comedy or yet another re-watch of Pride and Prejudice (the 2001 Keira Knightley version, of course).

These little joys—sweet treats, roses, and love stories—are beautiful gifts from God. But here’s the thing: there’s only one kind of love that lasts forever, and it doesn’t come with a box of chocolates.

God’s love is constant. It’s unchanging. It’s the real deal.

The Bible reminds us of this over and over:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” | Hebrews 13:8

“God is love.” | 1 John 4:8

When someone asks the unanswerable question, “What is love?” (cue that one love song in your brain), the answer is simple: God.

What Makes God’s Love Different?

The Bible mentions love hundreds of times—more than enough to make us realize its importance. Paul even calls love the greatest, above faith and hope, in 1 Corinthians.

Here are two things about God’s love that blow me away every time:

We Were Created as “Very Good”

In Genesis, God looked at all of His creation—every breathtaking sunset, every majestic creature—and called it “good.” But when He created humans in His own image, He said we were “very good.”

Let that sink in for a minute. You were created in God’s image, and He calls you very good.

He Will Never Leave Us

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, His last words to the disciples were:

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This took me immediately to the phrase, “’Til death do us part.” God’s love doesn’t stop at death—it goes beyond time itself. Nothing can separate us from His love.

Verses to Remind You of God’s Love

When the world’s version of love starts to feel shallow, let these verses remind you of true love:

Jeremiah 31:3

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.

With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

1 Peter 4:8

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

John 15:9-17

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

1 John 3:1

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”

Romans 8:38-39

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Real Love, Even When It’s Hard

Let’s be real: loving others isn’t always easy. Loving your friends? That’s doable. Loving your enemies? Not so much.

And loving yourself? That’s where a lot of us struggle. If you’re anything like me, you might be your own worst critic—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Or maybe you’re angry with God, because you have unanswered prayers or feel like that promise you’re waiting on will never come.

The enemy loves to whisper lies, making you feel unworthy or not good enough. But here’s the truth:

God created you. (He knew you before you were born!)
God sent His Son to die for you.
God loves you.

“There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” | John 15:13

Even when it doesn’t make sense, Jesus chose you. He wants a relationship with you. He loves you endlessly, perfectly, and without conditions.

The next time you think about the things you love—a delicious meal, your favorite movie, or even those little candy hearts—remember this: God created you with pride. (Yeah, He’s proud of you.) And His love for you? It’s better than any Hollywood ending.

If life leaves you with big questions and feeling alone, explore a Bible study like Combating Loneliness from the World’s Biggest Small Group. There are many more studies to discover with things we deal with everyday like anxiety, hopelessness, and looking for direction. His word is a loving gift to us.

Because no matter what, His love and His word will never fade—even after the credits roll.

Combating Loneliness Study