Devotional Day 2: Who Is God To Me?
Scriptures
Exodus 3:14-15
Matthew 13:53-58
When Jesus came to this earth, people had a wrong perspective of who He would be and how He would operate. Their perspective problem became a hindering force that stopped many people from fully receiving all that He had to offer them. Matthew 13:57 says that the people in Jesus' hometown were offended at Him because, essentially, He didn't do what they expected Him to do.
How often do we get stuck treating Jesus the same way? We become offended, frustrated, and angry because God didn't do what we EXPECTED Him to do. We get caught in the deadly expectation gap that lies between what we experience in life and what we expect our lives to be like. This then causes us to interpret our circumstances through the character of God, rather than interpreting God's character in our circumstances. What do I mean by this?
When life isn't good, we believe God isn't good. When people disappoint us, we believe God disappointed us. When people leave us, we sense that God has left us. While these feelings are real, these feelings are simply not true.
One morning a few years ago I was reading Isaiah 49:23, which says, "Those who hope in Me will not be disappointed." To be completely transparent, when I first read that verse I began to argue with God about it. I said, "Lord, I appreciate Your Word but this simply isn't true. I have trusted You and I have been disappointed…" I felt the Lord telling me to read the scripture again, so I did. "I'm still not getting it, God. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I've been disappointed by You time and time again…I prayed for my aunt, and she still died. I prayed for a spouse, and I'm still single. I thought that job was going to be a dream, but it turned out to be a nightmare." The Lord said to me, "Read it again."
So, like a frustrated little kid, I begrudgingly read it again. "Still not getting it, God!" Finally, I read it a third time and I sensed the Lord say, "Carla, I said those who hope in ME will not be disappointed. Not those who hope in the promises or dreams or blessings that I've given them…Not those who hope in the people I've placed in their lives… those who hope IN ME will not be disappointed. My character doesn't have expectations gaps. I am who I am and I do what I say I will do. Don't put the pain that other people have caused you on Me. That's not who I AM. They may have left you, but I never will. Just because I don't always do things the way you thought I would, it doesn't mean that I'm not faithful. I'm asking you to trust ME. Trust My sovereignty, My purpose, and My plan because I see things differently than you. I have a different PERSPECTIVE."
Here's the truth, friend, just because life isn't always good, doesn't mean God isn't. Even when life is hard, God is good. Even when people leave you, disappoint you, betray you, and walk out on you, God is still good. God is good because it's His nature. It's who He is! Your current circumstances on this sin-filled earth are not an indicator of God's character or His love for you. God is faithful, merciful, kind, loving, and just, even when you don't feel like He is (Psalm 145:9; Deuteronomy 7:9; Isaiah 63:7; Psalm 89:14). Your FEELINGS don't dictate who God is. There's a difference between feelings and the truth. You may FEEL all alone, but the TRUTH is that you're never alone (Deuteronomy 31:6). You may FEEL like you're not good enough but the TRUTH is that His grace is MORE than enough for you (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." This week, check your perspective of who God is to you and make sure it lines up with His Word and His truth. Truth always triumphs over feeling!
Prayer: Lord, I come before You today and I repent for any blame, anger, or frustration that I've carried towards You. I acknowledge that I live in an imperfect world with broken, sinful people. Please forgive me for loving, trusting, and hoping in other people more than I have in You. I know there is only room on the throne of my heart for One, and I place You in Your rightful place as King and Lord over my life. Thank You, God, for never leaving me or forsaking me. Holy Spirit I ask that You would guide me into all truth according to John 16:13, give witness to Jesus in my life, and bring revelation to my heart of who God really is. I love You and thank You for who You are. In Jesus' name, amen.
