Allowing God to Love Us and Love Through Us

Karen Said:
There's this girl on facebook who I talk to occasionally. Anyways, something bad in her life happened, tragic really, and as a response she wrote "hates god" as her status. I understand that she is in pain, and angry, but how do I convey God's love to her? I already told her it was okay to be mad at God, and that her grieving was normal. I also told her that what happened wasn't God's plan. But what now?


It sounds like you are doing a great job showing her God's love. When Jesus came to earth He came in a humble and vulnerable way. So many people's impression of God is a Zeus-like figure throwing lighting bolts down on humanity. Jesus revealed a face of God that cries with us when we are mad at Him (Gospel of John, Chapter 11). Jesus certainly didn't reveal a God that needed to be protected from our emotions. Jesus talked a lot about His Kingdom coming as something small and humble and expanding from within people who receive it. When He first made these comments they would have contrasted with the way the Kingdom of Rome (which was the first power to claim the title "Kingdom of God") exercised it's power. Christ showed us that God conquers through love, while Rome brutally conquered it's enemies with force. Jesus is annoyingly persistent when we are rejecting Him. He continues to offer us love and grace in spite of our pride. Ussually He shares His love and grace through people who are actively experiencing His love themselves. People who regularly humble themselves, admit thier need, and recieve His love.

Karen, keep surrendering to His love and grace in your own life, and keep allowing Him to overflow onto those around you. When you are experiencing emotional highs and lows yourself use the Psalms to model that God accepts all of our emotions as worship when we are directing them to Him. Pray that God continues to reveal His love to your friend through you and those around her. Don't be afraid to share the times you've felt the same way, and that you are getting to know a God who is very different then what you thought He was like. Tell her just enough to keep her curious, and allow God the space and the time He needs to work.