Being Liked


 

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Several years ago my kids listened to a song that included the lyric, “we all want to be loved.”  In scripture we read over and over again about God’s love for us. As our faith grows knowledge of that love becomes a constant in our lives. God loves me. We wake up and we’re breathing. We get out of bed and begin our day with ample amounts of food, clothing, water and air and we know God loves us.  Even on the days when we feel ill or sad, somewhere in our heart we can grasp the idea, the hope of God’s love. But…. Does God like me? Does He like you? Yes! Yes, He does.

          Think for a moment of that difficult person in your life, parent, child, spouse, sibling, whoever he or she may be, think of that person.  You love them, some days you love them simply based on whatever relationship status they hold in your life. “I have to love her she’s my _____.”  But do you like her? Maybe. Maybe not.  Again, based on the relationship, blood or marriage, you’re compelled to show love to that person whether you feel it or not. You’re called to be there for her regardless of your emotions in the moment. You love your person, but you don’t necessarily like her or him.

          God is not like that.  In his book “Ruthless Trust” Brennan Manning tells the story of a man celebrating his eightieth birthday. When asked by his nephew why he was always happy he responded, “The Father is very fond of me.”  Manning goes on to say that our lives would be much fuller if in fact we could grasp the idea that God not only loves us but actually likes us.

          We know what it is to love and be loved. Love is wonderful but in some ways being liked and accepted is even better. Doesn’t it make you smile; make your heart expand, to know that God, the God of the universe, likes you?

 

“I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:15b-16

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