God is infinitely more!
Perceptions are deceiving, as the saying goes. I know it to be true for me. When I was little, I was introduced to Jesus as my friend and God as “The Judge.” While both are true, that is not the entire picture. It’s as if you were to look at a diamond and only see one facet. You are seeing the diamond, but not all of the other facets, and not getting the whole picture of the inherent beauty. I spent years reinforcing those initial perceptions. I did not see Jesus as my Savior, nor did I see God as my loving Father.
This created a real problem for me. It limited my access to the benefits of a savior and a father and all the other characteristics of our God. Likewise, my perception began to distort my view as well. God who is Just became God who is angry and even eager to punish me. He seemed unapproachable because of all my continued failures. That perception ran deep, and even when I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was always afraid of God. However, God is not limited by my perception of Him. He is so much more than I can understand. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
I recently read a book by Irene Hannon and this paragraph struck me: “The thing is, trying to understand the mind of God is like an ant trying to move a mountain. … His ways are so far beyond our understanding that even attempting to figure them out borders on arrogance. That’s where faith comes in. At some point you have to put your life in God’s hands, acknowledging you may never understand why certain things happen but trusting that He does. Accepting that you don’t have to understand everything is a liberating experience.”
I no longer trust in my perceptions. I am learning to trust Him and what He says is true. That’s why I love this current series we are in—What Is God Like? It explores the truths about who God is and how much greater He is than any perceptions we have of Him. I hope you are learning for yourself how great our God is, and even more, how deep and wide His love is for you!