I John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
The greatest evidence that God loves us and that we “love” “God” is “that we keep his commandments”. Our Lord put it this way, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). The Psalmist said it this way, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalms 40:8). It is true that our Lord’s “commandments” are often at odds with our carnal mind; for, our carnal mind lusts after the pleasures of this “present world” (II Timothy 4:10); but, our Spiritual Mind (Heart) yearns for the Holy Things of our Lord. And, it is true that obedience to the Lord is often physically and emotionally taxing to us, and is also sometimes financially challenging. This is what Paul was referring to when he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13); that is, our Lord will enable us to overcome all the obstacles and troubles that appear along with obedience to Him! Our Lord certainly understands the miserable troubles we are sure to encounter; for He illustrated it like this, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). The “cross” is analogous to suffering and tribulations. Our Lord even tells us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”; and He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.” (John 16:33). Thus, “his commandments are not grievous” because He is always with us to give us “peace” in the midst of the dreadful storms of this “present life”, He overcomes all our tribulations with His almighty power, and He is our “strong consolation” in troubled times; therefore, we flee to Him “for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18). No matter how severe the troubles of our “way” may become; let us never forget that our Lord “maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters” (Isaiah 43:16) and He promises to “even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19)!