Better Than I Thought

There is saying I hear sometimes that means a lot to me. It is "Jesus didn't come to change the Father's mind about me. He came to change my mind about the Father."

Wow. How I needed a mind-change!

In my mind (before I had ever turned to God), He was punitive. He was vengeful. He demanded that I strive for a standard of perfection that was too high for me.  I turned to Him anyway, because I believed He could get me off of drugs and give me a reprieve from hell.

But He was better than I thought He was. 

I noticed immediately that I felt Loved.  This was a surprise.  I remember asking someone, "Why didn't anyone tell me about this part?"  The love was more than I expected.

But soon, I was bewitched, bothered, and bewildered by theological dogma.  It seemed that this God who received me just as I was, now demanded worship, money, and good behavior.  God had made my life better, so I wanted to give Him whatever I thought He wanted from me.  I was a devoted servant.

But God was better than I thought He was.

A sweet time came when I remembered.  I remembered that His grace is sufficient for me.  I remembered God's unconditional love. His Spirit let me know that He had not demanded anything from me.  He wanted to be everything for me.  I began to see that I lacked nothing, because I had my Father, and He was everything required for life and godliness.  I felt full.  I fell in love with the One that I once feared and served.

God was better than I thought He was.

God's grace extends beyond our reasoning.  He shows His power by His goodness.  He brings our soul into peace and rest.  He brings us home.

Even now, God is better than we think He is.  Isn't that a wonderful thought?