His Loving Voice

Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them..."

I have been thinking a lot lately about the character of God.  As a human, I have a hard time comprehending what He is like.  As a child I was taught that I am a child of God.  He loves me.  I believed it, and did my best to live like He wanted me too.  Life was black and white to me, and staying in the white just seemed a matter of determination.  I am very determined!

Time marches on and I experienced a lot of different things.  Everyone does.  I experienced how other people treated me, both good and bad.  I experienced people's disappointment and sometimes their anger.  I sometimes have felt that if I weren't a certain amount of good, I would not be loved, and might become completely unwanted.  I let myself and others down, and just could not ever be exactly what I wanted to be or what I felt God wanted me to be.

It is hard, after a while, to not confuse human reactions with how God reacts.  He expects me to do my best so surely He is disappointed when I fail, or frustrated with me when I mess up, right?  He knows I know better.  Is He frowning at me every time I goof?  I don't like being frowned at!  I don't like disappointing people and I certainly don't want to disappoint God!

As life got more complicated I forgot to remember that His ways are not my ways.  His thoughts are not the same as mine.  He gave me free will because He wanted me to learn and to get to choose Him if I wanted to.  At the same time, He is omniscient.  He knows me so well that He knows what I will choose.  He knows the end from the beginning.  I do not surprise Him when I mess up.  He knew I would.  He does not all of a sudden become frustrated or disappointed in me.  He isn't angry at me.  He doesn't want me to go away until I can do better and be better.  Instead He continues to love me.  He reaches His arms out to me with encouragement.  He calls to me, hoping I will hear Him and listen to His loving voice.

Jesus did what He came to do.  He came to save me.  How I love Him for that!  I am so grateful for His love and His encouragement.  I am so grateful that He smiles at me with genuine love, and understanding.  He doesn't get angry when I make mistakes.  In all situations He reaches out His hand and, if I choose to take it, He leads me to a better way.