Infatuation or True Love?

A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away. Song of Songs 8:7 (CSB)

Hollywood is fantastic at creating romantic movies. And truthfully, I enjoy a good romantic film! But don’t let what you believe about love be dictated by what you see in the movies.

Infatuation is what our culture calls (and Hollywood depicts as) “falling in love.” It’s an emotional high with a temporary shelf life. Infatuation produces euphoric feelings of “this person is perfect and completes me.” We tend to superimpose our dreams on that person, while dismissing their behaviour during the infatuation phase.

Now, I don’t have a problem with the infatuation phase. In fact, when handled correctly, I think it sets the hook in deeper. But fast forward a few years past that phase and then what? When you’ve lost that loving, infatuated feeling, that’s when you begin working on a real relationship!

We all love stories of people coming together and finding each other, so this desire to have that kind of love is built into us. But nobody’s spouse will ever live up to perfection. We must pursue that kind of love God’s way. Otherwise we’ll hop from relationship to relationship, never satisfied once the infatuation phase wanes.

Interestingly, nowhere in the Bible do we find a description of “falling in love.” Love in the Bible is presented as actions, not feelings. Love is seen through honouring someone, being patient, kind, or saying it verbally. As you can see, it all boils down to showing it. Love is about choosing to weather storms. Love knows neither failure nor defeat because it never gives up (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Infatuation feels strong, but love ultimately owns the real power!