We talk a lot about "faith" in church. We talk about having the faith to move mountains, the faith to tithe, or the faith to start a new ministry. But after 50 years of walking with the Lord, I’ve realized something: the hardest thing to believe isn't that God can do miracles.
The hardest thing to believe is that He actually likes you.
It’s easy to believe God is powerful. It’s much harder to believe He is kind—especially when you know your own heart.
The "Mean God" Caricature
Most of us carry around a caricature of God. We picture Him as a stern judge with a clipboard, just waiting for us to trip up so He can mark it down. We think His silence is a sign of His disappointment.
But as I’ve been studying Jeremiah 9:24 lately, I’ve been struck by a different image. The Bible says that God delights in exercising lovingkindness. He doesn't just "tolerate" showing us mercy; He finds actual, deep pleasure in it.
Mercy is His Nature
Think about that for a second. When you come to Him with your failures, He isn't rolling His eyes. He isn't looking for a reason to push you away. His nature is to draw near.
If you’re feeling like God is distant today, I want to challenge you to take a "leap of faith." Not a leap into the unknown, but a leap into the truth of His character. Stop trying to earn a love that was already given to you before you ever took your first breath.
Let’s Dig Deeper
I’ve written a much more detailed look at how we often accidentally turn into "modern-day Pharisees" by focusing on the rules instead of this incredible grace. You can read the full article over at my main site.
Read the full story here:
🔗 https://waustingardner.com/you-dont-become-a-pharisee-by-hating-god
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you find it hard to believe God truly delights in you?
Stay encouraged,
Austin Gardner