Dwelling places: Love sick. Sick with Love.
Entering Holy Week
Hello Friends!
As we are in the midst of Holy Week, this reflection seems fitting. Over the past week, I’ve been reflecting on God’s love and His faithfulness. With so many hard trials, suffering and loss, we can rest in the hope that Christ came, is with us now, and will come again. I’ve chosen the words from Solomon “Love sick” to describe what seems hopeful and pray these are words of encouragement to you.
Blessings!—Melanie
Song of Solomon 2:5 [AMP]
“Sustain me with raisin cakes,
Refresh me with apples,
Because I am sick with love”
Love sick or sick with love.
What does this mean as it pertains to our Divine God?
A holy longing, a profound desire of a soul-longing for intimate and overwhelming communion with God.
“It is a holy dissatisfaction with the world, a "soul-longing for a view of Jesus in his glory" (Spurgeon). It is when the believer pants for the Divine presence, as in a dry and weary land, wanting to be home with the Savior.” Google AI Overview, 18 Mar. 2026, google.com.
Love sick, why am I writing this blog? I am love sick for God.
That probably sounds ridiculous but as I become so grateful for His love sick for me, I can only trust He wants me to be love sick for Him. Maybe these are not even the right words because love is so vast. But, I want to invite us into His love and see what He says in the Scriptures, and also what He might say to you and I personally where we are in life. As wars carry on and sorrows seem heavy, my hope is that love will increase and God’s love will become more apparent and vital for each of our lives.
For God is truly Love, and Lovesick for you.
I share today with you, one of my recent themes of study on love: Love for God and what we receive through this love.
Love seems so large but also small, ambiguous but also explicit. My quest is only to learn more, and to glean with new eyes and heart, more of God’s perspective; He being the Creator of this action and commitment. He gives us many portals into what it looks like, how it might feel, what it speaks, and definitely how to be love and live love for Him, for ourselves and for others.
What might that look like?
Here is a glimpse from a poem below.
He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (ESV)
First Things First
(Isaiah 54:10)
Nothing you did
caused my love to come to you.
Nothing you can do
will cause it to depart.
Forever, first things first: love, simple and unconditional.
Forever, first things first: the love I have for you
will outlast the very earth.
Even when you disbelieve it, it still burns for you.
Even when you hate yourself, it is closer than you know.
I love you now.
I love you forever.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Father, thank you, Amen.
poem by Paul J. Pastor taken from The Listening Day Vol II
What we receive through this love:
Agape (Original Greek: ἀγάπη (agápē)
—affection, good-will, love, benevolence
God’s love Exodus 20: 6
God’s protecting care Psalm 91:14, 145:20, Romans 8:28
Blessing from God Deuteronomy 11:13-15
A life of joy Psalm 5:11
Life in the promised land Psalm 69:35-36
The kingdom as inheritance James 2:5
A crown of life James 1:12
There are plenty more passages for agape, please continue as the Spirit leads.
Take some time to reflect and journal what you are noticing, gleaning, and encouraged to hold on to. Where are you experiencing God’s presence and care for your soul?
Ask God to guide your soul throughout your day.
