Hello, friend. I’m thankful you’ve dropped in for a visit. You’re always welcome here, and our team always hopes this space becomes one of your favorite places to think deeply and share generously to the community that has built here over the years. If you’re new, Tracy shared thoughts on the question this month here. Be sure to check in next week for thoughts from our guest, Ever Moore. We know you’ll love meeting her! This week, I’m thinking about how God responds perfectly.
How does God respond to me?
That’s the kind of question I (Jennifer) can turn over in my mind for quite awhile. I often turn toward Him during a quiet, reflective pause in my day; the times I need patience or help; and the desperate, ugly-cry moments. I know how he responds then—He responds in love.
What about when my heart and mind are distracted by innumerable things? How does God respond when I haven’t paused, reflected, or connected? What then? If I were Him—but I am not Him. Running the character of God through my own human, flawed filter has serious problems and repercussions. The mighty, eternal God of truth reveals His nature and character without a doubt. The Bible is clear:
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 CSB
How does the merciful, gracious, patient, loving God respond to me, you, any of us? How can we be sure He will? When I need to know the heart and mind of my heavenly Father, I search the pages of scripture. You, too?
He knows.
The Lord’s response to me is perfect. That’s all there is. (Okay, we can pack it in since there’s nothing left to say, right? I’m kidding.) His response is perfect because He knows every detail of His creation. His response to me is out of deep love, and it’s in keeping with His character and everything He knows about me.
O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 NLT
I’m thankful God is not fickle or passive-aggressive. He is present in a deeply personal way! My thoughts, words, actions—He knows it all before I begin. Why is that important? Because the best response to a person takes everything about them into account.
A special friend knows me well. She is able to pick out a gift that is perfect for me, and I’m both thankful and amazed. My husband has over 20 years of life with me, so he has the opportunity to know so much more about me. How much more intimate knowledge does my Creator hold? When He gives a gift out of His boundless love, there are no words.
He cherishes.
My God knows and cares for me. Because He does, I know He’s thinking about me.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand! Psalm 139:17-18a
When I began dating my future husband all those years ago, it was obvious I was thinking about him all the time. Sometimes a little gift would be left on a car at work. Phone calls were made every night at the same time. He was on my mind even in the busy times (mostly because I couldn’t wait to shag free from the busy to spend time with him).
When you intimately know, care for, and think fondly and highly of someone, you cherish them. Friend, our God cherishes us.
He loves.
Jesus is the embodiment of love. He offers His love completely, without hesitation, and sacrificially. Hundreds of years before the Christ walked on the earth, King David prophesied our need for salvation would be met in Jesus; the Lord provides for those who revere Him.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:9-10
In Christ, the child of God receives genuine righteousness, His! Unchanging and faithful love has been gifted to us in Jesus. Peace with God and peace within our soul. We have restored relationship with our heavenly Father in Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit in us. God’s love grants us right standing, “rightness,” with God, and that yields the wholeness we were made for!
He stays.
The next verse is precious to me. When I think I’ve “lost” my connection (usually due to choosing busyness and allowing too much noise in my life), I’m reminded that He is never misplaced. He is always present. He is with me all the time.
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence! Psalm 139:7
I’m married, and I know the permanence of the relationship these 22 years. On any given day or night, I know where my husband is, but occasionally he travels or I do. When we are separated by distance, we will still honor the vows that marked the beginning of our married life. Why? Because we are committed to being with each other.
God’s commitment to me looks the same and different. The permanence is the same but more intimate and heightened; nothing changes my relationship to Him. Paul wrote,
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38
Nothing? Life, death, spiritual beings, fears, worries, the powers of hell—even my foolish busyness? Nothing. He is committed to me to the end and for all eternity. That’s genuine permanence right there!
He hears.
His ear attunes to me, my heart, all of my life. Every breath, every word, every heartbeat—my heavenly Father’s ear is so keen, He catches it all. The Spirit intimately connects—hearing, inspiring, and often amplifing the cries of my heart.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:19
It’s not like having a programmed smart device in our home listening for the next question or command. It’s closer to a very important skill that may be diminishing in our culture: actively listening. When you love and care for someone, you listen very carefully and respond with their best interest in mind. If my husband were to use his words to ask for help, I’d hear his voice and heart in that ask; and then I would want to give my best yes because I love him.
With God, I make many requests. What I know is, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14).
God responds perfectly!
It never enters my God’s all-knowing, deeply-loving mind to turn a cold shoulder to the child He loves. Sometimes I miss out on pausing, reflecting, and connecting, and that breaks His tender heart. And it has consequences for me in my life, consequences He would never want any of His children to experience.
It’s all true up there. He loves me (us!) and wants the very best for His child. Out of that love, He will wait for me to come to Him and spend time with Him.
Because I love God—I won’t want to make Him wait.
Is there any particular way you experience God responding to you? I’m curious! Share below or at the Facebook Page.
