Having Trouble Loving People?

The water ran stone cold from the faucet. My daughter couldn’t fill the bathtub, and I couldn’t do the dishes. (A disappointment for one –a cause of celebration for the other.)

“I bet the pilot light is out,” said Matt.

He laid down on the cement by the hot water heater. “Yup. The pilot is out.”

He told me to go try turning on the gas stove.

“It works!” I yelled from upstairs, and he ruled out the gas supply being the problem.

So I brought the matches, and he took steps to light the pilot. Soon we heard the crackling sound of gas heating water.

I asked why the hot water heater would be working fine for months and then all of a sudden the pilot light would go out. Matt told me sometimes there’s a strong backdraft of air that puts out the flame.

This morning I woke up and wondered why in the world my heart had felt so -nothing- for people all week.

John says:

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16 NIV)

I knew there was nothing faulty in the source of love. I just needed the flame re-lit. I couldn’t start loving people again under my own power.

So I got down on my knees and asked God to strike a match to my heart.

Has your love toward someone grown stone cold?  Has some backdraft of annoyance or hurtful words or failure to keep a promise swept in and put out the flame?

Get down low on your knees and ask God to start a fire in your heart.