God is wonderful. He truly is. One of my favorite passages in Scripture is the story of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32.) The son asked the father to give him his share of the estate, and the father does. Along with giving the son his share of the estate, the Father also gives the son free will to do whatever he pleases with the money. The son then proceeds to leave his father, and squander away all the money that he has been given. Imagine how hurt the Father must be that the son has left him! Yet the father does not go after the son. No matter how much pain it causes him, he continues to let the son live freely; not because he doesn't love him, but because he loves his son so much that he is willing to let his son decide for himself what he wants to do. So the father waits for him. The son eventually loses all his wealth, and realizes how stupid he was for leaving his father. Feeling that he was no longer worthy of his father's love and anticipating the punishment that should be waiting for him, he timidly returned home. But instead of being greeted with anger like he had thought he would be, he was greeted with love and joy. Even after all he had done, his father still rejoiced at his return!
This story is so true of God's relationship with us. First of all, notice how patient the Father is. God gives us everything we need and could ever want and then gives us the free will of doing what we please; He doesn't force us to do anything. But being human, we do fall away from the plan He has for us from time to time. We sin against him, and cloud up our relationship. But notice His wonderful patience. He lets us go, even though it hurts Him, because He loves us so much that he wants us to be able to choose Him. Like the father of the prodigal son He is patient and waits for us to come to Him. No matter how long it might take us, he sits quietly in the stillness of our hearts, and waits. He is always with us, just waiting for the moment when we call on Him.
And oh! What a beautiful moment when we finally do return to Him. Like the prodigal son's father, he is not angry, he greets us with love and compassion. The heavens rejoice at our return! He will never condemn us if we acknowledge our sins and are truly sorry for them and promise to try and do better.
My own life is like this story all the time. Time and time again I stumble. Time and time I fall. Occasionally I will be ashamed and try to hide what I have done. But God knows all and patiently He waits for me to come to Him. And when I do come to Him, it is such a beautiful reunion. God delights in me. He delights in you. He delights in every single person that he has ever created.
God desires to be in perfect union with us. He longs for us to want the same. But out of love, He gives us free will, and like the prodigal son's father, he waits patiently for us.
I hope you all have a blessed Christmas!
-Catherine
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