Are you aware that how you view God the Father is deeply affected by your family of origin? The same can be said of Jesus the Son, or the Holy Spirit. The relationships you grew up with, your family history and dynamics, and the quality of the bonds that you formed as a young person all contribute to the story that you tell yourself about who God is, and how He sees you.
Many of us grew up and developed the notion that God is distant, aloof, and passive. Maybe we have learned that He loves us, but that love may look like it has strings attached. Or maybe you’re afraid to fail because then you won’t be acceptable in his eyes? Or if you are like me, you often feel that the burden is on you to find your way to Him, to make the first move, and that you are responsible for the relationship.
The Bible tells us a different story, if we are open to receiving it. God reveals himself to be a passionate pursuer of the hearts of His people. In Genesis we learn that God made us in His own image, and humanity was the pinnacle of His creation. After Adam and Eve sinned, what happened? It was God who came looking for Adam in the garden, asking “Where are you?,” while Adam hid. He was after Adam’s heart from the moment that there was separation.
Here are some other Biblical references:
- Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. God had a plan of redemption before the need was realized (Rev 13:8)
- But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8)
- We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)
- In the story of the prodigal son, the Father saw his son from a distance and ran to him
- In the parable of the shepherd, Jesus illustrates the Father’s love as leaving the 99 in search of the one lost sheep
God is pursuing you! And it is not dependent upon you getting everything “right.” He has pursued mankind from the beginning, and is pursuing you even as you read this.
Last year while ministering with a prayer team at a conference, a woman came for healing prayer. At the beginning of the session, the Lord showed me a picture that He wanted share with her. It played out in front of me like a cartoon: I saw what looked like tunnels coming down from Heaven and attempting to connect to her heart. When the last one finally connected and broke through, I heard the Lord say with urgency and care, “I’ve been trying to reach you!”
During the session the guest revealed that she felt like she had disappointed God and was unable to connect with Him, and felt like He was angry at her and standing at a distance. She said she felt a wall between herself and God and didn’t know how to get past it. She received breakthrough that day and was able to hear God’s loving voice again, and I was able to share the Lord’s message that He was trying to reach her from the moment that there was separation—it was not all on her to figure it out!
Friends, God is a pursuer. He is active. He is near. He loves you and is looking for ways to connect with you. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” He isn’t waiting for you to come looking for Him, He is coming to YOUR house. Will you open the door and let Him in?
