Relentless Love: How the Love of Jesus Became My Anchor

There are moments in life when love feels distant—when you’ve lost your footing, your strength, or your sense of who you are. Yet it’s in those moments that the relentless love of Jesus shows up most clearly. His love doesn’t wait for us to have it all together; it meets us right in the middle of the mess, the diagnosis, the heartbreak, and the questions. I know that love intimately. It has been my constant companion, my teacher, and my lifeline.

In March of 2023, I received a diagnosis that changed everything—myxoid liposarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer. What began as a small lump in my arm quickly became a fight for my life. I still remember that night vividly: Pain shot through my body, swelling began to spread, and my mind went into panic. I called the tele-doc through my insurance, and when the nurse said, “Get to the ER immediately,” my heart sank. In that moment, I wasn’t a speaker, trainer, or encourager—I was a woman in desperate need of the relentless love of Jesus.

THE LOVE THAT FOUND ME IN THE FIGHT

When fear whispered that I wouldn’t make it, love answered louder. I remember praying,

“Lord, I don’t know what’s happening, but I know You’re here.” Psalm 107:20 says that

love God “sent out His word and healed them” (New International Version). That Scripture

became my anchor.

There were days I couldn’t find words to pray. But love— relentless, faithful, pursuing love—prayed for me. Romans 8:26 reminds us that when we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.

REFINED BY LOVE

Isaiah 43:18-19 in The Message paraphrase says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new...”

That verse became my anthem. God was doing something new in me—not just healing my body but reshaping my faith. The relentless love of Jesus doesn’t remove the fire; it walks with you

through it. It refines you until all that remains is faith, peace, and purpose.

THE RELENTLESS NATURE OF HIS LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:7 (New Living Translation) describes love as one that “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” That’s relentless Love.

When I was tempted to ask “why me,” God’s love gently reminded me, “because I trust you with the testimony.” And today, I stand here— cancer-free—because His love never let go.

REDEEMED BY LOVE

Psalm 103:3–4 (NLT) says, “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” That verse became my declaration. His love didn’t just redeem my health—it renewed my hope, refocused my purpose, and reignited my calling.

THE LOVE THAT LIVES LOUD

John 15:13 (English Standard Version) says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” That’s what Jesus did for us. His love stands in the gap, covers the broken places, and fills the silent spaces where fear once lived.

ROOTED IN GRACE AND PURPOSE

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) assures us that nothing—not death or life, angels or demons, fear or future—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing.

CLOSING REFLECTION

Relentless love doesn’t just rescue us; it redefines us. It teaches us that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us today. It gives us permission to live again—fully, joyfully, and purposefully.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES & SOURCES

Psalm 107:20 (NIV)

Romans 8:26 (NIV)

Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message, Eugene H.

Peterson)

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)

Psalm 103:3-4 (NLT)

John 15:13 (ESV)

Philemon 1:6 (TLB)

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Shaundra Dineen

Author: Shaundra Dineen is a speaker, author, and empowerment coach who inspires women to embrace transformation through faith, authenticity, and purpose. A cancer survivor and founder of The Flourish Forward Collective, Shaundra helps women rediscover their voices and bloom beyond brokenness. Connect with her at shaundradineen.com