God Is Not Displeased With You

I mean, that's pretty much what I wanted to say. But I can elaborate.

I began my last post with this Scripture:

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?--Romans 8:29-31

God is for us.

I think some of us just need to hear that today. God isn't sitting up in heaven, looking down on you, wondering how He can make your life more difficult. He isn't wringing His hands over all your sin. You're His child, not a toy He created to play with. He wants the best for you, and he will fight--and has already fought--on your side.

I heard a pastor say that you can tell how valuable a thing is by the price that was paid for it. Why would a God who sacrificed His only beloved, precious Son be against the people He paid such a high price to ransom?

The craziest thing is, those whom he predestined [to be conformed to the image of Jesus] he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

He is making you into the image of His Son, who is the firstborn among many brothers (that's us). We have a family resemblance to Jesus. We are His brothers and sisters, just like Him in our Father's eyes. And do you know what the Father said about Jesus? "In Him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11).

He is pleased with His children.

If you believe in Christ today, He has already justified you and glorified you. Those verbs are in the past tense. To claim that God is "disappointed in you" implies that God was surprised by what you did. He's omniscient....aka, never surprised. (I heard that from another pastor. The good thing about being a Christian is that it's impossible to plagiarize the wisdom of God!)

You don't have to be perfect to approach Him. In fact, the more messed up you are, the more eager He is to welcome you. He knows you can never fix all your problems. He's the only one who can.

So if there are things right now that you think are between you and God, just remember: God is not a person. He won't shame you, blame you, or slam you with lightning. Jesus has already paid for all your sins, issues, depression, worries, imperfections. Everything you don't want to share with Him, He's already experienced full-force on the cross. You can't scare Him.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.--Psalm 62:8

And that's in the Old Testament, guys.

Pour out your heart. He wants to hear it all. He is not displeased, and He wants to be your refuge.