God’s Word is true all the way through… or none of it is. That seems to be something that God wants me to understand – His Word is true. I can trust it. I can rely on it. I can know that no matter what the world says or shows, God’s Word is true. I hate that I struggle with this – trusting God – even though I know that I can trust Him. But firmly believing that God’s Word is true is foundational in understanding and walking in my identity.
I think that most believers have this issue – wavering in trusting God. They may not say it like that, but their words and actions speaking volumes. I’ve listened to people in church circles and Bible studies quote scripture in one sentence, but then say something that doesn’t jive in the next breath. Or they’ll read through passages like John 10:10 or Isaiah 54 and still believe that God causes bad things to happen to them. Maybe they’ll say something like God punishes those He loves even though they know that Jesus dealt with all sin on the cross (Hebrews 9:24-28). What is left to punish?
There seems to be a disconnect… or little by little, we’ve believed the lie the God isn’t that good after all. This seriously impacts our identity.
My entire blog was started because I felt that God wanted the word spread that He is a good, good Father. He wants everyone to be saved – even the Adolf Hitler types through history, the human traffickers who do heinous things to innocent children, the politicians who are simply in it to pad their pockets, and the addicts who will do whatever it takes to score their next hit. The Bible is clear: He wants ALL to be saved (I Timothy 2:4, II Peter 3:9).
That doesn’t sound like an angry, vengeful God.
I don’t want anyone to think that I believe life is all sunshine and rainbows. It’s not. Life can be hard. But it’s made even more difficult when you believe God is not on your side. Does God punish us – those He loves? Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, there’s nothing left to punish! Does He correct us when we veer off course? Yes, but not the way the world does.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
Knowing what kind of Father we have – a good, loving, and just Father – will dramatically change how we approach Him.
I have also been discouraged with what I can only describe as hopeless prayers. Someone might have received a bad health report, and they pray for comfort… but not healing. They might even say It’s as much as we can hope for. The doctor gives them a diagnosis, and they accept it as a new reality that they will live with for the rest of their lives… no hope for better days. Not even a glimmer of hope that God can heal them.
If we believe God isn’t as good as the Bible tells us – if we don’t own the identity Jesus died for in order to provide to us – we will never walk in victory.
In John 5:1-9, Jesus asked a lame man if he wanted to be healed. Seems like a silly question, doesn’t it? If you’re sick and in pain, wouldn’t you want to be healed? It’s interesting that Jesus would ask… but maybe Jesus understands the victim mentality. It’s unfortunate, but if you’re sick, you might feel like you’re more important. You might even get certain perks – people cater to you because you’re in need. Do we want to be healed? To be clear, no one can walk in victory while clinging to the identity of victim.
The actions and words coming out of the mouths of many believers tells me that they believe what the world says over what God says – and these days, victimhood is even encouraged. As much as I would like to say that doesn’t describe me, I still struggle to fully believe in God’s goodness. But let’s look at what God’s Word says. In order to believe it, we have to hear it (Romans 10:17).
What God says about us matters. It matters more than we can fathom! Imagine, the Creator of the universe – of everything that has ever existed and ever will – He personally knit you together in your mother’s womb. He’s in the details of your very fabrication (Psalm 139). Everything about you – every miniscule detail that you might not even be aware of – matters to God.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, every time God looks at you (which is all the time), He sees Jesus! He doesn’t see your greasy hair, dry skin breaking out, needing to lose a few pounds, wearing holey underwear. He sees Jesus! He looks at you and sees every bit of Jesus’ righteousness. You might even be looking at something you shouldn’t, thinking very unholy thoughts, or consuming something that numbs the senses… God still looks at you and sees Jesus! It’s in His Word!
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
I recently heard a pastor state that your current behaviors are a reflection of your current identity – your thoughts and actions are the belated announcement of who you see yourself to be. What you do now – how you pray – reveals who you believe you are… your value, your worthiness, and whether you believe that God loves you or not.
It determines your boldness to run to your Father. When our kids feel any discomfort, they don’t typically hesitate to come wake us up in the middle of the night. That’s the access we have to God because we’re His kids!
Maybe you’ve been burned a time or two (or a million). Maybe you grew up in a home that only offered you insecurity, fear, or uncertainty. That’s not our God. Too often we attribute to God what we’ve experienced from other very hurt and broken people. But we have to come to a place where we believe that God is good! Because the identity we believe we have will transform us one way or another.
I want to fully believe and reflect that my identity is rooted in Jesus Christ. I want to know and reflect that God delights in me (Zephaniah 3:17). I want to never doubt that God has only good things for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that He brings only life in abundance to my existence (John 10:10). I want to pray with expectation that He will meet my every need, not according to the standard of the world, but according to the riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
The lame man in John 5 had a choice to make… continue as the victim of what the world offers or pick up your mat and walk in victory. We’re given that choice, too. I would think it would be a no-brainer, but speaking for myself, I would rather not continue as the victim. And Jesus already provided everything we could ever possibly need to leave the world’s identity behind.
It’s time we choose to pick up our mat and walk in the victory Jesus provided.