
Chris Tomlin (a Christian musician) sings Good Good Father, a song regarding and recognizing God’s immense love for us.
The other morning I listened to this very song and noticed I can finally get all the way through without choking up as I sing along to the words. I wasn’t always able to do so before…And I’m thankful beyond measure.
I’ve intentionally and passionately pursued Christ for the past five years, not perfectly but with great effort. I’ve read and memorized scripture. I’ve counteracted and demolished negative thoughts by applying God’s faithful word where fear and worry long to thrive.
But in all that, can I just be honest and admit that for a long time I failed to see that God loves, loves, loves me deeply and without limitations…He LOVES me with unconditional genuine love. Keep in mind I’ve believed in Him since I was a young girl, and was taught of His love from a young age but the idea and reality of His love never struck me until more recently.
God absolutely loves me even though I mess up everyday and I don’t deserve His love. I simply didn’t understand and couldn’t grasp that concept until I allowed the words of this song to sweep in and settle throughout me.
It’s like this: We can read the same verse three or four times and it may just come across as words and nothing more. It may not be until reading that same verse for the 100th time that we finally realize the power and hope found in those very words. And then it hits us like a ton of bricks and we have that “ah-ha” moment.
Sometimes God uses His people to amplify the meaning of His words, whether it’s through a song, a devotion, a church message, a fellow believer…fill in the blank.
For me, I was just taking for granted the raw truth of God’s love for me. I was missing an important key ingredient to my faith..functioning and believing in Him—but not absorbing the fullness of His words. I was reading scripture and applying it to my life, but not always in a heart-pounding, adrenaline-rushing way.
If you’d have asked me if God loved me I would’ve been quick to respond with, “yes, absolutely!”…because I knew the answer in my head from reading scripture, but my heart didn’t know and feel it.
The first time I heard Good Good Father was nearly a year ago. I was driving alone and as the music spilled from the car’s radio those words melted over my heart overwhelmingly. Tears ran down my cheeks as I soaked in the lyrics—
You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am.
Those words brought me to tears over and over every time I’d hear that song because it became this revelation of finally understanding and realizing that I am loved by God.
I AM LOVED BY GOD!!
(It kind of makes me want to head to Colorado and shout it from the mountaintops).
There’s something about knowing who you are, more importantly knowing who you identify as (as a follower of Christ) and knowing who He is.
Being able to declare that you are loved by God…there’s just simply nothing like it.
It’s when you feel lost, hurt, broken, or lonely but knowing and saying, “everything is going to be alright because I AM LOVED BY GOD regardless of my circumstances or feelings.”
I don’t know anything or anyone else in the world that can provide that kind of grace, mercy, and truth. When you’re in those moments of despair all you want is to feel love, because relationships are all that really matter and Jesus’ love offers the ultimate healing and restoration.
It causes me to consider those who don’t know God as Lord and Savior, where do they draw hope and comfort? I’ve said it before: “I’m still kind of a mess some days, but without God I’d be a bigger mess.” I’m so thankful for a life with Him as my Good Good Father. I’ve tried it the other way (with me in control) and it’s always left me empty and disappointed.
You aren’t living, until you’re believing and living IN HIM—immersed in all He has to give as truth.
Do you know and trust that God loves you unconditionally?
Check out Good Good Father for yourself by clicking on the photo link.
Yes, I love-love-LOVE the feelings of being loved by God! But when I don’t “feel” it, I can still stand on that truth and say (out loud, so I hear myself say it), “God, thank You for feelings that confirm the truth, but I also thank You for a truth that stands on its own and needs no confirmation from me or anyone else. Thank You that when my feelings lie, they don’t get to define me or dictate what I say, do, think about, or believe. You are my Sovereign, not my emotions.” (Ironically, after praying this, I frequently FEEL the good feelings again!)
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I love this mindset! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Sometimes my emotions/feelings are fragile; I love your idea of verbally expressing God’s truth to conquer and overcome the enemies attacks. Thanks again!!
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I believed it in faith, also, for a very long time before it got so real to me. It’s like I only saw the tip of the iceberg at first, and then God let me know that it goes so much deeper, even though I still can’t totally fathom how deep and how wide His love is for me! I’m so happy that He who began a good work in us, continues working in us till the day of completion! 🙂
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Oh thank you for sharing those words of wisdom!
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😀
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