For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

I’ve recently found myself struggling to understand God’s love—and my love for Him. I can “love” God when I perceive him as a distant ethereal entity, but such a relationship leaves me feeling empty. Because God is not a “Facebook friend,” someone to interact with infrequently and at a distance. Our relationship with God isn’t meant to consist of the spiritual equivalent of casual messages and occasional emoticon-filled chat sessions.

Consider the effort we put into our other important relationships: we communicate to our best friends, spouses, and significant others with phone calls, handwritten letters, unsolicited visits, hugs, kisses. When our lives take a dive, we rely on them to supply the tissues and cookie dough. When times are good, we celebrate with those closest to us. But where is God in the rejoicing and mourning? Is He intrinsically involved in every moment of it all, or does He get a quick prayer?

Engaging in a deeper, more intimate, relationship with God can be daunting. Inviting Him further into our hearts requires giving up more of ourselves and deliberately exposing the secrets we keep hidden. Fearing that level of interaction and honesty, we often exclude Him from our lives, because keeping Him at a distance feels safer. If we let Him in, He might not like what’s inside. Maybe we just aren’t worth saving.

But God’s love isn’t going anywhere. God has been with us since the beginning. He has seen our failures, our weakest moments, every piece of dirt in our lives; and He’s not about to give up on us now. If we authentically engage in a relationship with the Lord, nothing will take that love away.

None of us makes the cut when it comes to deserving God’s love, yet it’s there for the taking. It’s right in front of you. God offers a love that will never fail—so reach out and grab it! Don’t keep God in a corner of your life. He’s not just here for consultations. Live your life with God. Feel His love and love Him in return.