God: The Loving Father
For a long time, I believed that God was chronically disappointed in me.
I knew that He loved me, but the heavy weight of shame and condemnation I felt over never quite being good enough led me to believe that there was still work to be done. I couldn’t accept His love for me until I felt like I had proven that I was worthy of it. Which, in case you were wondering, never happened. To quote Pastor Aaron, “Shame is a powerful motivator, but a terrible master.”
JOURNAL: What are the places in your life (past or present) that you may feel shame over? Is there a situation or behavior that you feel like you need to “tidy” or fix before you talk to God about it? Do you often find yourself striving to prove your worth to God or others?
The Holy Spirit has done an incredible work in my life over the last few years as I have begun untangling and unlearning some of these faulty beliefs. And one of the clearest places I’ve seen the heart of God, one that contradicts shame and striving, is in Luke 15.
In this chapter, Jesus tells three stories: a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find the one that’s lost, a woman who searches for a lost coin, and a father who waits for his runaway son. In every story, something of value is lost; and when it’s found, there is celebration.
But it’s the final parable, the one we often call The Prodigal Son, that paints such a clear and compelling view of the Father’s love.
After demanding his inheritance early, squandering it in reckless living, and finding himself hungry and ashamed, the younger son rehearses a speech he plans to give his father: “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). He knows he messed up. He thinks he has to earn his way back.
But the father never even lets him finish.
While the son is still a long way off, the father sees him. He runs to him. Wraps him in an embrace. Calls for the best robe, a ring, and a feast. He doesn’t bring up the mistakes. He doesn’t demand that the son earn his way back into relationship.
He simply says: “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”- Luke 15:24
Jesus tells us these stories so we’ll understand what God is like. He isn’t distant or disapproving. He’s not standing with arms crossed, waiting for us to get it all right or figure it all out. He’s a Father who runs. Who meets us in the mess. Who delights in our return.
The lie says we have to clean ourselves up first. The truth says we just need to come home.
PRAYER: Take a moment to imagine the Father running toward you. What do you think He says when He sees you—really sees you—just as you are? Ask God to help you trade shame for the security of being His beloved child. You don’t have to earn His love. You just have to receive it.
I knew that He loved me, but the heavy weight of shame and condemnation I felt over never quite being good enough led me to believe that there was still work to be done. I couldn’t accept His love for me until I felt like I had proven that I was worthy of it. Which, in case you were wondering, never happened. To quote Pastor Aaron, “Shame is a powerful motivator, but a terrible master.”
JOURNAL: What are the places in your life (past or present) that you may feel shame over? Is there a situation or behavior that you feel like you need to “tidy” or fix before you talk to God about it? Do you often find yourself striving to prove your worth to God or others?
The Holy Spirit has done an incredible work in my life over the last few years as I have begun untangling and unlearning some of these faulty beliefs. And one of the clearest places I’ve seen the heart of God, one that contradicts shame and striving, is in Luke 15.
In this chapter, Jesus tells three stories: a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find the one that’s lost, a woman who searches for a lost coin, and a father who waits for his runaway son. In every story, something of value is lost; and when it’s found, there is celebration.
But it’s the final parable, the one we often call The Prodigal Son, that paints such a clear and compelling view of the Father’s love.
After demanding his inheritance early, squandering it in reckless living, and finding himself hungry and ashamed, the younger son rehearses a speech he plans to give his father: “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). He knows he messed up. He thinks he has to earn his way back.
But the father never even lets him finish.
While the son is still a long way off, the father sees him. He runs to him. Wraps him in an embrace. Calls for the best robe, a ring, and a feast. He doesn’t bring up the mistakes. He doesn’t demand that the son earn his way back into relationship.
He simply says: “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”- Luke 15:24
Jesus tells us these stories so we’ll understand what God is like. He isn’t distant or disapproving. He’s not standing with arms crossed, waiting for us to get it all right or figure it all out. He’s a Father who runs. Who meets us in the mess. Who delights in our return.
The lie says we have to clean ourselves up first. The truth says we just need to come home.
PRAYER: Take a moment to imagine the Father running toward you. What do you think He says when He sees you—really sees you—just as you are? Ask God to help you trade shame for the security of being His beloved child. You don’t have to earn His love. You just have to receive it.
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1 Comment
Thanks for this! I get stuck here sometimes, thinking I have to prove my worth, this is a perfect example that none of us need to prove our worth. I like the image of Him running to me, just like the prodigal's dad.