• Home
  • About the Work in Progress
  • Confident Faith
    • Christianity
    • Women of Faith
    • Weight Loss Journey
  • Confident Marriage
    • Marriage
    • Marriage Resources for Christians
  • Confident Parenting
    • Parenting
  • Confident Blogging
    • Blogging
    • Favorite Link-ups
  • Work with Me
    • Graphic Design
  • FREE Resource Library

Being Confident Of This

Grace for the work-in-progress woman

How We’re Getting Valentine’s Day All Wrong

February 12, 2018 by jstults 4 Comments

Valentine’s Day – love it or hate it?

Some say it’s a meaningful day to appreciate our loved ones while others claim the day is nothing more than one marketing ploy after the other.

Recently, I learned the surprising story behind our holiday, and how we’re getting Valentine’s Day all wrong. It’s so revolutionary and counter-cultural that I want to share with pretty much everyone I know.

Because, friends, it’s important!

In our commercialized culture, Valentine’s Day has become all about romantic love, and if you don’t have that kind of love in your life (or if your relationship is strained at the moment), then you’re just plain out of luck.

For this reason, Valentine’s Day often leads to depression and loneliness for many people because, let’s be honest, no relationship is perfect and no one wants to be alone on a day that’s all about love.

But the truth is that the origins of Valentine’s Day tell a completely different story – one that reveals how we’re getting Valentine’s Day all wrong!

We’ve been deceived by a world that would take the most precious gift we have to offer, and the most precious gift offered to us, and make it shallow and somewhat meaningless.

Why We’re Getting Valentine’s Day All Wrong

According to church tradition and historical documents, Saint Valentine was a priest who married couples in secret defiance of the Roman Emperor’s ban on marriage. Valentine believed so strongly in his faith that he demonstrated the ultimate form of love – not eros, or romantic love, but agape – the kind of love that sacrifices self for the sake of another. He put his life on the line in order to help couples who wished to follow God’s ways.

When he was discovered, Valentine faced punishment in the form of imprisonment and torture, eventually laying down his very life for a faith he so firmly believed in.

Did you catch that? He gave his life, for the sake of love and faith.

There is a depth of love to agape that is hard for us to even fathom, friends, and this world would ask us to settle for so much less, whether married or not.

When we feel “less than” because we don’t have a “someone special,” we settle for less than God’s best.

When we feel “unloved” because marriage is hard right now, we settle for less than God’s best.

When we make Valentine’s Day about what we get instead of what we give, we settle for less than God’s best.

Whether you love Valentine's Day or hate it, you might just be getting it all wrong! Christian women|Valentine's Day|real love|Bible studies|devotionals|Giveaway|free book|marriage book|Christian Living|spiritual growth|growing in Christ|Jesus|faith

Agape is God’s best.

Agape gives even when it hurts.

Agape is unconditional.

Agape never gives up.

And that agape love is already yours in Christ! All you have to do is receive it.

 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13

Saint Valentine simply followed the example of love he found in Christ, who gave his life on the cross out of love for a sinful and hostile world.

You can walk through this Valentine’s Day focused on cards and chocolates and things of this world, or you can walk through the day focused on the supernatural abundance of love that this world can never, ever give you.

My work-in-progress friends, you can spend Valentine’s Day washed in the truth that you are fully loved, unconditionally loved, eternally loved, by a man who gave his very life for you – Jesus Christ.

And as you’re filled with His love, you can spend this day giving agape love away to others, too. It just might change your whole perspective.

Let’s get the day right instead of getting Valentine’s Day all wrong.

Will you join me now in thinking of how you can make agape the focus of your Valentine’s Day?

Jen 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Christianity Tagged With: Agape love, Christian apparel, Christian living, hope for the hurting wife, marriage book, Saint Valentine, Valentine's Day

Comments

  1. Dana says

    February 16, 2018 at 20:37

    I had never heard the story of St. Valentine, but I’m glad I know it now. I read this a little too late for Valentine’s Day this year, but there’s nothing saying I can’t take your suggestions today or any other day, for that matter! Thanks for the post and the new perspective on a holiday that often brings mixed feelings.

    Reply
  2. Dawn says

    March 21, 2018 at 15:54

    I had never thought of Valentine’s day this way! I so had it all wrong! Thank you for this eye-opening post… and from here on out, Valentine’s day not only will mean something different to me, but it will be celebrated differently!

    Reply
    • jstults says

      May 25, 2018 at 14:01

      I’m so happy to hear it, Dawn! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Ultimate Valentine's Day Roundup Of Love For The Lord says:
    February 14, 2018 at 14:15

    […] How We’re Getting Valentine’s Day All Wrong by: Jen […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I'm Jen: a work in progress. I'm imperfect - a mom of four, pastor's wife, discipler, and sinner saved only by grace. I like to sing, read, write, teach, and smile. I have a heart for encouraging women everywhere to understand God's limitless love for them and what His grace means for everyday living. Welcome! :) Read More…

Contact Me

jstults[at]beingconfidentofthis[dot]com

Reader Favorites:

  • Why Reading Isn't Enough ~ Study the Bible
    Why Reading Isn't Enough ~ Study the Bible
  • Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive
    Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive
  • 6 More Benefits of Studying God's Word
    6 More Benefits of Studying God's Word
  • For the Wife Who's Not in Love Anymore
    For the Wife Who's Not in Love Anymore
  • The Secret to Being a Warrior Wife
    The Secret to Being a Warrior Wife
  • Painted Red: The Significance of the Passover
    Painted Red: The Significance of the Passover
  • How to Study the Bible: 4 Resources
    How to Study the Bible: 4 Resources
  • Much Ado about Missions: 8 Resources for Teaching Missions
    Much Ado about Missions: 8 Resources for Teaching Missions

Join the facebook page for everyday encouragement!

Join the facebook page for everyday encouragement!

Share This Blog:

Facebook Twitter More...

Follow Me on Pinterest

Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.
Hope for the Hurting Wife: 30 Days of Practical Encouragement for Your Marriage.   marriage book|difficult marriage|husband|wife|hard times in marriage|marriage encouragement

Categories

New devotional release from Jen Stults - Being Confident of This: 30 Days to Discovering Your Identity in Christ. This book is for every Christian woman who wants to walk in confident faith instead of struggling with doubt, fear, and insecurity! self-esteem | self-confidence | self-help | motivational | personal growth | spiritual growth | how to be more confident | Christian women | devotional | Bible study | identity in Christ | superwoman myth | being like Mary

Copyright © 2023 | Crave Theme by The Pixelista | Built on the Genesis Framework