Bearded grandpa sitting on a cloud.
Accountant with a checklist catching your every mistake.
Big booming voice in the sky.
These are just a few images people have of God. Many who aren't sure they believe could still describe their mental image of Him.
My image of God has always been more punitive than patient. I expect God to be as harsh with me as I am with myself. Growing up with a performance orientation, I judged myself based on success or failure, feeling terrible after mistakes.
It wasn't until I read through the Bible in 90 days that I realized God was far more patient with me than I was with myself. This revelation changed my life because my view of God shapes everything else.
The same is true for you. Your view of God shapes how you see yourself, relate to others, and respond to failure and success. A.W. Tozer famously wrote, "The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God."
This quote came to mind as I fell in love with SEU Worship's song "What A God." It's one you hit repeat on over and over. I especially love the honesty of the lyrics, which describe the surprise when our view of God doesn't match how He actually moves in our lives. The song's opening verses describe finding God in unexpected places and moments.
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“Who thought I'd find You at the lowest place?
Who thought You'd feel me in the crowd?
Who knew You make good of my mistakes?
You're nothin' like I thought You were, You're better”
The line "You're nothin' like I thought You were, You're better" is compelling! How often do we have expectations that turn to disappointment when someone isn't better than we hoped - they're worse!
Imagine your biggest failure, perhaps your worst decision. If God saw you returning to Him after that dark moment, how would you complete this verse, "Filled with _________ and ___________, He ran to me."
In Luke 15, Jesus describes the Prodigal Son coming home seeking to be a servant. But verse 20 shows something different: "While he was still far off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him."
Whatever filled your blanks above, I'm guessing you wouldn't have expected love and compassion. What a God, right?! He is better!
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Later in the song, SEU Worship continues singing about being surprised by God's character toward us.
“I thought You'd show up for perfection
'Cause what kind of God looks for the lost?
They say it's over for a sinner
Although You say, ‘No, it's not, no, it's not’"
We sing "What a God" with surprise because we expect God to do what we would—condemn rather than forgive, reject rather than love, and bring wrath rather than mercy. We do those things when others disappoint us and expect God to follow suit.
The prophet Jonah had similar expectations. After Nineveh repented and God relented, Jonah was angry about the plant that died and even more furious at God's mercy toward this idolatrous nation. God responded with a powerful conclusion:
"You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"
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These are not the expected responses to wickedness. When people hurt us, we seek revenge. Have you ever seen someone who has done wrong "turn to God" and felt skeptical of their authenticity or cynical about God's compassion?
Yet, we serve a God who treats those who seem most lost with the most compassion! While the music is emotionally stirring, the lyrics invite me to pause with awe at how God has moved in my life.
If the most important thing about you is what you think about God, take a moment today to consider your view of Him. As you meditate on Tozer's quote, listen to "What a God." Write words or phrases on index cards or Post-It Notes describing God's character toward you. Place these where you'll see them regularly to remind yourself that God truly is better than we deserve!
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
