If anything should go on this blog, it should be one of the greatest realizations I have had about life since coming back to America in August - that God longs to give His people good things - great things - so that they can be joyful as they go through life. Since I've been back, for whatever reason, I've become impressed with how our earthly relationships can teach us about our "heavenly" relationship. And I think the whole point of that was for me to see just what my God wants - for me to take joy in the life that He makes possible and to be completely satisfied in Him.
This brings me back to a journal entry from last November, written after reading a chapter of a book about addiction:
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November 17
"Willingham was right - God does want to give us great things. He said that many men are caught up in what they think Christianity is all about - this self-loathing idea that we must endure so many struggles for God. He's given us salvation, and after that He gives us the struggle of glorifying Him with our actions. But just as a father wants to give affection, love, and good material things to his children, so Jesus longs to give me good gifts of love, affection, and certain desires of my heart.
It was always my desire to love someone during my lifetime. But I had begun to buy into the world's idea that, since everyone (almost) gets married, it's just something you do, and you just hope for the best. Bobody's needs are fully met in their spouse, and yet everyone marrys someone. You just try to compensate and don't "rock the boat". But now there's Ashley, and I love her and she loves me. And God saw fit to give me something that makes me that happy. He wanted to give that to me becasue He is gracious, and He knew how happy I would be as a result."
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In the past few months, I've begun to follow this analogy through, and I've become just amazed with how much our relationship with God could be just like a relationship that a child shares with a loving earthly father. From His perspective, He looks at us and longs to see us smile as we go through life. He longs to touch our hearts, to meet those deepest needs and desires that we have. Somehow we act as if God wants to provide for our survival, and then the rest is a struggle called "the Christian life". How far that is from the truth! God wants to provide not just for our survival, but also for our abundant joy. What kind of father would want his children to sleep on the hard floor, if he knew that providing a bed would be better for them? What kind of father would never give his children toys to play with? Or an occasional treat after dinner? These might seem trivial, but if we try to translate these things into more "grown-up" things, the picture might get more vivid for us. Regardless of what the specific need or desire is, a loving father longs to see his children face life with joy.
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