“The most dangerous stories we make up are the narratives that diminish our inherent worthiness. We must reclaim the truth about our lovability, divinity, and creativity.” Brené Brown

Meister Eckhart writes “It is a lie – any talk of God that does not comfort you.”
And “How long will grown men and women in this world keep drawing in their coloring books an image of God that makes them sad?”

So many of us have grown up with an image of God that is more abusive parent than loving Father, one who is more interested in discipline than delight.

For many of us, the mere suggestion of the thought that God loves us and wants us to be happy causes a knee-jerk reaction against it, believing that way leads towards sin. We must remember that Jesus came to give us life in abundance. This doesn’t mean having more things. This means living life fully, completely, with trust and hope and joy.

When did the Good News become the guilt trip? Who first taught you the image of God as angry, as upset, as never satisfied? Jesus paints for us a new picture. This is a picture of forgiveness, of unconditional love, of mercy and grace.

Read the Gospels for yourself. Talk to God yourself. Not only can you, God wants you to. Learn again, or for the first time, the truth that God loves you.

For many of us, developing a new healthy relationship with God is a lot like the work we have to do with reparenting ourselves, because we grew up in unhealthy homes. We were taught by abusive parents or siblings that we were not worthy of love. They most likely thought it was the best way to control us. Sometimes they used the image of God as the ultimate parent, always watching, always unhappy with what we are doing.

This isn’t who God is.

Remember this verse? This is one of the most-quoted verses by Christians. It is John 3:16

16 “For God loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Right after it is this one.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

God does not condemn the world. God is love. God loves you – yes you. God made you, and God, being the source of love and goodness, made you good. Hold this tiny spark in your heart. Make it bigger through prayer and reading the Good News. Then share it with others.