10 Stories in the Bible to Help You Remember God Loves You

A glance at the story of creation reminds us that God loves us.  

God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28 WEB

It’s easy to get caught up in an identity crisis, isn’t it? We look in the mirror and frown at our reflection. We glance at our legs, hands, or belly and wonder why we fall short on the measuring stick. We forget or refuse to love ourselves as the beautiful work of God’s hand, setting aside truth assuring God’s love for us.

But creation reminds us of God’s love, our reflection included. We are made in His likeness and image with blessing and fruitfulness in mind. God notes in Genesis 1:31 that all he made is very good. If we dig further in the Bible, we see in 1 John 4:8 that God is love. We are connected due to creation. We are loved by the very One whose made us by hand.

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Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!” Numbers 13:30 WEB

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Numbers. Time after time, I return to the story of Caleb and Joshua exploring Canaan. In their story sits an exploration of a new land. We also find hope, a “can do” attitude, and a loving God.

God promised a land flowing with milk and honey. The requirement to arrive? Simply trust and follow Him. Many Israelites initiated the journey, but not all completed it.  Caleb and Joshua did. They believed their loving Father—even when most of the leaders, who spied on the same land as they did, focused on the giants and impossibilities versus God’s possibilities. The other leaders faltered with fear and grumbles, then grabbed threats to kill Caleb and Joshua. But our two men trusted God and His love for them. They recalled and leaned on God’s plans for a hope-filled future. Even though battles loomed, Caleb and Joshua felt secure in following God. We can too. After all, He loves us and has a planned a promised land for us as well – heaven. 

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So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. Job 42:12 WEB

His life overflowed with wealth and blessings. The Bible describes him as blameless and upright. (Job 1:1) Job feared God, refusing evil’s foothold. He appeared to be the perfect child of God, yet he faced major trials and the loss of much at the hands of Satan. How could a loving God let something so awful happen?

We may never understand Satan’s bent for evil while on earth,because blame ultimately sits there. (Satan inflicted Job’s harm.) We may never understand why God appears to remain silent amid the turmoil. But one thing stands clear: God remains near. He never forsook Job; He loved him. God never forsakes those who put their trust in Him. Instead, He loves.

Whether situations look bleak or good, our God—the One who gives the horse its strength and commands the eagle to soar ( Job 39)—loves us and stands near. Just as God loved his servant, refusing to allow Job’s life to linger in the hands of Satan (Job 1:6), He does the same for you and me through the hope of heaven. 

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Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. PS 139:16 WEB

David’s life was planned. As a youngster, the prophet Samuel anointed him as king of Israel—well before friends and family believed his potential for anything except shepherding sheep. God, however, knew his future. He wrote the pages of David’s book, ordained the days of his life, even seeing David’s body in the womb.

It’s amazing when we think of the population of earth and how God sees each of us. Billions of people travel from place to place, each containing a story written before their feet were formed, each a body on which God’s eyes land. Our Father loves enough to write an original story for each of us. That’s love.

Let David’s life remind you and me of God’s love next time we need a reminder.

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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11 WEB

These words, text sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles of Jerusalem, ooze love. Nebuchadnezzar had forced the Israelites to uproot, stealing them away to Babylon. But God, through Jeremiah, brought hope. He communicated assurance of peace and potential.

Our God desired to save His people back then just as He does today. And although the text centers on a story about the Israelites, the words are a reminder of God’s love for you and me as well. He knows the thoughts He thinks toward us.

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His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him. Luke 1:50 WEB

John the Baptist hopped joyfully inside Elizabeth’s womb when he heard Mary’s voice (Luke 1:40), followed by his mother Elizabeth’s hope-filled proclamation. Big and marvelous things were about to happen. In return, Mary offered her song, words which included the above verse.

Mary was about to give birth to the world’s mercy-giver, Jesus. And mercy walks arm-in-arm with love—for generations and generations of those who fear the Mighty One. Take a walk through Mary’s Song. See the love. Be reminded. We, those who fear Him, are part of the generations of generations. 

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For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 WEB

This is likely the most popular memory verse in the Bible. In fact, it was the first one I learned. Perhaps it was your first memory verse, too?

In it, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, setting plain the truth of His love for man. God loves the world: you, me, and everyone He created. So even if we’ve sinned to a point at which we feel irredeemable, John 3:16 assures differently. God offered Jesus as reconciliation for our sin. Through belief in Him we have hope and eternity in heaven. That’s love and a stellar reminder for those times at which we need it. 

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Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1 WEB

I look at John 13-15 and see nugget after nugget of love. John 13:1 is especially impactful.

As Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, he assures them that he loves “his own” to the end. That’s faithfulness you and I can lean on today. Our God loves, and He loves us to the end. 

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Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17 WEB

Paul, a man formerly known as Saul and one who persecuted followers of Jesus, found the love and mercy of Jesus Christ while traveling a dusty road to Damascus. The very Jesus he protested against is the very one who came near and spoke to Paul one-on-one.

God changed Paul’s life with love. And He can change our life too. It’s a simple reminder of the love available and waiting.

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He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 WEB

Like icing on the cake is heaven to our daily life. Death finds its demise at the gates of heaven. Inside, we find no tears, pain, or mourning—only love. Now that’s heaven—truly heaven, a promised land assured to believers in Christ by the Father who loves us. 

So the next time you fall into discouragement, disbelief, or a desert of the spiritual kind, recall these 10 Bible stories to help you remember God loves you. Because the truth is, He does. Be encouraged, friend. 

Kristi Woods, writer and speaker, is passionate about women walking deeper with God. She writes regularly and offers faith-building tools at www.KristiWoods.net. She contributes monthly at iBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com and is published in three Chicken Soup for the Soulpublications. Kristi, her husband, and their three children survived a nomadic, military lifestyle, and have set roots in Oklahoma. Connect with Kristi here: Facebook and Pinterest.

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