Duty or delight

Does your relationship with God feel like a burden? Do you consider time with Him a bit of a duty to tick off a list?

Maybe you wouldn’t put it like that but I think deep down many of us see it this way.

I know I do. I struggle when I haven’t been having my daily quiet times - not because I’m longing for time with him (although I am, even if I don’t realise it), but because I subconsciously think that He’ll be annoyed or disappointed with me.

But while spending time with Him is of course something we should desire, our performance has nothing to do with how our Heavenly Father sees us.

He's not a Father who is displeased and distant - constantly comparing us to some invisible standard or waiting for us to slip up so He can discipline us.

He doesn't get annoyed when we don't meet His expectations, emotionally withdrawing and holding us at arm's length because of our failings.

No - our Heavenly Father is a Dad who is overjoyed to spend time with us! He is delighted when we come to Him - rejoicing that we want to be in His presence and longing to meet with us and bless us.

Just dwell on that for a moment. God delights in you. He looks at you and He is SO pleased. So, so thankful for you. He made you, and if you are found in Jesus, when He sees you, He sees Jesus - pure, holy, righteous, whole.

He loves it when we come to Him! He doesn't force us to spend time together and He isn't keeping a checklist of how often we come. No, He loves it because He loves being with us - He wants to bless us and pour out His goodness on our lives.

Do you believe this? I know I struggle to. My default position is to come to God as a duty, with my head often hanging low because of my lack of perceived effort.

But coming to Him should be a delight and a joy, not a duty or a burden. If it has become this way, we need to ask ourselves why.

The Bible says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30) and that He has good and perfect gifts to bless us with (James 1:17). He loves it when we delight to spend time with Him.

So, today, rather than coming to him because you think you should, or because you worry He'll be displeased with you if you don't, why not find a way to simply rest with Him? Pull up a comfy chair, go for a walk in creation, sit in the sunshine and soak up His presence.

You have a Dad who loves you more than anyone could ever love you and He longs to spend time with you today.

Eshet Chayil

Encouraging women to trust God fully, obey courageously and live wholeheartedly for Him.

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