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The thought is that love can conquer all and be the source of everlasting love and happiness.

Most of us are entranced with the idea of love. However, why is it that most people who are supposed to be in love are not happy? In fact, many married people say they are unhappy because of problems with their loved ones or spouse. Does this mean that love cannot conquer all?

This concept is the paradox of love. If love is something we hope for and strive to have to be happy, why does it cause so much sadness and demise? Stories like A Dad’s Unexpected Battle make us question: Is the idea of a happily ever after really impossible? Do the complications of love bring us more sadness than joy?

Why do we love?

Many people have conflicting ideas about this because while some believe that love is simply a chemical reaction, others believe that love is a choice and that you can choose who you love. On one side, those who say there is an undoubted chemical reaction think that you cannot choose who you love and will eventually fall victim to falling in love despite not wanting to fall for a particular person.

However, the paradox of love also shows the other side: as humans, we choose to love because it makes us feel happier and fulfilled, or as movie lovers would say, love completes us. This means that inherently, love is a choice and that it is up to us to decide when we should and can love a person to build a stronger relationship with them.

Whether we believe in either of those views, we must recognize that love is inevitable. This means that in our lifetime, we are bound to fall in and out of love. However, the paradox of love makes us question whether this is worth it and if we should continue to love others despite the consequences that we face.

The Paradox of Love: Should We Fall?

Some people say that if we never fall in love, we will never have to trust others and put our hopes in them. This, in turn, means that we will never be disappointed or hurt by different people. So, does this mean it is better not to fall in love? Is it better if we humans learn to control our emotions so that we do not fall in love and leave ourselves vulnerable to other people?

However, to answer this question, we must look at the bigger picture of understanding what love is. If we follow the scriptures and understand love in the context of God, which is everlasting and ever true, we realize that love should not be something we are afraid of. The paradox of love is not that complicated.

Loving Like Jesus Taught Us

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When we look at the ways that Jesus loves and the ways that we are thought to love because of his example, we realize that love is sacrifice. This means that, unlike what is pictured in the movies, love will not always be an easy path.  It is vital that we love according to the Bible:

Love is unconditional.

Jesus taught us that no matter how much we sin or hurt him, He will always love us and that love is given regardless of our feelings or expectations for that other person. As we choose to love others, we must follow the selfless and unconditional love given by Jesus so as not to confuse ourselves with the paradox of love that is dependent on actions or rewards.

Love is patient.

This means that despite our hardships or tribulations, our love stands strong for Jesus and his commandments as we manifest his love to others. We do not allow ourselves to be blinded by anger or hate; instead, we must have patience and counter these negative emotions with compassion and gentleness to counter the paradox of love.

Love is forgiving.

As humans, we can never be perfect, but in a world where this perfection is impossible, we realize that we have to learn how to forgive and use our faults to understand others and why they commit mistakes.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we must not be afraid in our pursuit of love because, as complicated as the world makes it out to be, the paradox of love is not actually that confusing. When we base our love on the way that Jesus taught us to love, we realize that it is true love, and with love, we can overcome any trials we face with the people we love. Want to read a book about the dynamics of love and how love can test an individual? Grab a copy of Hiding My Unhappiness.