A Glimpse of God’s Love
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” -- 1 John 3:1 (CSB)
It was a night filled with tears and frustration. Our daughter asked if she could go out with her friends, but we denied her request. Stomping off to her room in tears, she looked back over her shoulder and shouted, “Why don’t you ever let me have any fun?” Why couldn’t she understand how much we loved and wanted to protect her? We wanted her to have fun, but we wanted her to be safe even more.
Many things in this world point us toward God, but nothing shows His love more clearly than the parent-child relationship. This relationship helps us understand His love for us. He disciplines us to teach us, guides us with love, and provides for our needs. He even rejoices over us (Zephaniah 3:17), gives us good gifts (Luke 11:13), and grieves when we turn away from Him (Ephesians 4:30).
I would do anything for my daughters. I want to give them things that make them happy. However, if they asked me for something that could harm them, I would say no. If they did wrong, I would discipline them—not out of anger, but to guide them back to the right path. As they grew older, they sometimes chose to stray from that path. My heart ached because I knew those choices would eventually bring them pain, whether physical or emotional. But through it all, I loved them unconditionally, gently encouraging them to return to what was right.
That night, as my daughter turned from me, crying out about how unfair I was, I thought about the times I had pleaded with God. Was He protecting me in those moments? That night, I caught a glimpse of the relationship between Father God and myself as I heard myself saying, “No, because I love you I won’t.” How many times had God said no to me because He loved me? My heart grieved at how I must have hurt Him over the years with my anger and complaints.
So, I made a decision: the next time I was tempted to question why, I would trust in God’s love. Reminding myself that, I’d give my girls the world if it didn’t hurt them, but I’d just as easily withhold it if it would.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt frustrated with God’s answer, only to later realize He was protecting you?
2. What steps can you take to strengthen your trust in God, even when His plans don’t align with yours?
3. What scripture verses remind you of His love for you?
