This year, Clavis Publishing released Bear in Love. It is the story of a shy bear who doesn’t have the courage to tell Squirrel he loves her. He brings her gifts, but he’s not brave enough to knock on the door.

As I thought about this book, I couldn’t help but see that it might symbolize trials in a Christian’s journey. Now, I haven’t read it, but if we read only the blurb, we can talk about similarities:

Bear loves Squirrel. He brings her all kinds of presents, but he’s too shy to knock on her door.
Will Squirrel ever know how Bear feels?

A sweet story about being in love and not having the courage to speak up.

Bear is shy. Maybe, he’s afraid Squirrel won’t accept him. 

How often as Christians do we hold back from sharing our testimonies or spreading the Good News? What will the other person think of us? What if they get angry? What if they laugh?

Read: Hebrews 13:5-6 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Bear brings Squirrel gifts, a symbol of his love. Maybe these gifts will make him more lovable. 

Have you ever tried to barter with God? It seems like the easy way out. God, if you just do this one thing for me, I promise I’ll go to church from now on or whatever else we promise. The problem is God doesn’t need anything from us. We have nothing to offer Him.

Read: Acts 17:24-25  “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

Bear knocks on the door and makes a connection.

Isn’t that what being a Christian is all about? We seek to connect with our God. How do we do that? Through time in the Word and in prayer. By spending time in fellowship and by practicing the Truth daily.

Read: Jeremiah 29:33 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

As we celebrate this season of love, may we remember that despite being shy and afraid, God always seeks to connect with us. He yearns for a relationship with us. 1 John 3:1 says, See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! Our entire relationship with God is rooted in that love. John 3:16  shows us that love: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

May you ask and have it be given to you. May you seek and find. May you knock and have the door opened for you. May you experience God’s love in every moment and in all its glory.