For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!” ~ Romans 8:16 TPT
How real is God’s fatherhood to you? Do you know that you know you are God’s beloved child? Or do you wonder, sometimes based on your situation or circumstances, if He really cares at all about you?
For years, I had no problem believing that God is good. What I did have trouble believing is that He was good to me. In an overall sense, I knew that He cared about me, but because of everything I was going through, year after year after year of pain, suffering and deep disappointment, the love of God seemed to elude me.
Oh, maybe He loved me, but not as much as so and so, or the pastor, or those whose testimonies so obviously displayed God’s hand of blessing on their lives. But regardless of everyone else, did God love me? If so, then why hadn’t He rewarded my faith to believe His promises despite years of suffering, years of deep disappointment, despite the doubters and naysayers all around me? Why after stepping out in faith was there no significant change in my circumstances?
I knew God would give me a testimony but people around me were beginning to question and wonder if I was hearing God right, causing me to question myself in the process.
But what if it was just a matter of timing? What if God’s timing was just right, and although it was much longer of a wait than I could ever have dreamed, what if the outcome would be so much more than I could ever have imagined?
What if His love for me was really real? What if, in His love for me, He was growing me and preparing me to receive all that He had for me. What if, in His love for me, He was ensuring that I was ready to take hold of His promises and steward well this next season of blessing, favour and promotion?
What if, unlike those who would abandon their faith because they hadn’t seen the promises, God knew I would stay on the Potter’s Wheel until His work was finished? What if, in the molding and shaping, I was no longer concerned about what others think, and I could say no without worrying whether people would abandon me because I knew God was with me, and as my Father, He loved me unconditionally?
What if, out of this unreasonably long wilderness season, I had gained the courage and strength and authority to face every challenge and challenger with confidence because I knew without a doubt who and whose I was?
What if I chose to dispel the lie and believe that, even in my deep disappointment, that God was not only good…He was good to me? And that just because I hadn’t seen it didn’t mean I wouldn’t see it. It was only a matter of time.
As I write this, I have not yet received the seemingly long overdue promises I am waiting for, but the Holy Spirit has made God’s fatherhood real to me and I know that I know that I know I am His beloved child. And until I receive His promises, that is enough.