A Prayer about the Impossibility of Love

Can you love like this?

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13: 7

Loving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

We confess,

When we read the apostle Paul’s description of love, 

we know we cannot love like this.

One translation states,

“Love always protects…”

We confess, we sometimes protect — until we find it too hard or inconvenient….

“Love always trusts…”

We confess, we sometimes trust—until someone fails us repeatedly.

“Love always hopes…”

We confess, we sometimes hope—until it hurts too much to keep hoping.

“Love always perseveres…”

We confess, we sometimes persevere—until we get too tired and give up. 

“Love never fails.”

We confess, we often fail in love.

Thanks be to God — 

to you, our ever-loving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

these words apply to You — 

You are the one 

who always protects, 

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres.” 

You are love, 

and your love never fails. 

How secure we are in that love. 

What hope we have that one day 

we truly will always, 

everyday, 

love as you do. 

Keep growing us in that love until that day comes.

Amen. 

Read 1 Corinthians 13.