Learning to Love People Every Step of the Way

God loves you. You don’t earn His love. He doesn’t wait until you’re mature to start loving you. He doesn’t hold His affection back until you clean up, straighten up, or finally get it all together.

Yes, you’re a work in progress—but He loves you right where you are. God isn’t waiting on the “finished product” version of you.

And we’re called to love others the same way.

That means being patient with people’s progress and loving them every step of the way.

First Corinthians 13 tells us clearly: “Love is patient.”

While salvation—becoming spiritually alive through the Holy Spirit—happens immediately, character transformation usually doesn’t happen all at once on day 1. God often works through a process.

And the thing about processes is—they’re almost never complete overnight.

The Apostle Paul understood this. He wrote, “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” —Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

Paul knew God was at work and would continue to be at work in their lives. Just like he was at work in Paul’s life.

Here’s something worth remembering: if you require perfection from people before you can enjoy them, you’ll never be happy—because nobody’s perfect… including you.

If you want healthier, happier relationships, start celebrating how far people have come instead of judging them for how far they still have to go.

We’ve got to learn to be patient with people’s progress.

So today, choose to love those around you with a patient kind of love—your family, your kids, your spouse, your coworkers. Pray that God would continue His work in their lives, and commit to walking with them along the way.

Love them, pray for them and encourage them every step of the way.