While this is a truth we know in our heads often when Christians are asked how they feel about God, they don't respond He is love. Often this is because our idea of God is based on parental or authority figures from our childhood. Even the best parents in the world are imperfect representatives of God. For that reason it is true to say that everyone's family was dysfunctional to some extent. The opposite is also true that even in the worse home people are still made in the image of God and that image remains even if it is badly distorted. So to varying degrees we have all been disappointed by those whose love was important to us.
As a way of protecting ourselves from future disappointments it is tempting to build barriers to stop people getting too close. Unfortunately we can carry these barriers through to our relationship with God and consequently don't feel that God is love because we have unwittingly blocked Him off from our emotions.
Perhaps it's time to rethink our idea of God. Do we see Him as the father who runs to meet us when we are broken, dirty and in disgrace (Luke 15:11-32)? Do we see Him as the shepherd who deliberately and patiently pursues us (Luke 15:3-7)? Do we see Him as the farmer who is unbelievable generous without cause (Matthew 20:1-16)? Do we know that we cannot earn God's love or somehow pay it back (Titus 3:4-5)? Do we know we are extraordinarily loved (Jeremiah 31:3)?
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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