Driving along in my police car I was totally bummed out, disappointed - again - over my Christian conduct.
I have succumbed to thousands of guilt trips over the years, not having been correctly taught about grace and forgiveness...
It was a little after 3:00 in the morning. It was a cold night, and not a soul was in sight. I came to a red light and just sat there. I dropped my head and whispered to the Lord: “I bet you get tired of having to come and pick me up all the time...”
I was not expecting any kind of reply, but out of the sheer kindness of His heart, God - my Father - spoke to me:
Son, I never mind coming to you and cheering you up.
I started shouting! Literally. I was blown away that God would come to me and speak such words. I realized, once again, that I do not really know Him: I don’t know what He is like. I see Him frustrated and weary of my sinful behavior. I see Him on the brink of casting me out, disposing of me like a dirty towel.
But He’s not like that. He knows we get angry, tired, depressed, burned out. He comes to us when He sees us “downcast,” and speaks words that are encouraging, that build us up. That is what a good Father does on behalf of his children.
Jesus put it this way: “If you, being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.”
