When God is Irrelevant

Sometimes the Creator God, Father of all, from whom we receive all things that are good—becomes irrelevant to us.

When I was in high school I told my parents very little about my dating relationships, though they probably knew more than I realized. One evening, after I was dumped by a girl I had been seeing, my disappointment must have been obvious.

My mother was very kind.

“Eddie, we really love you.” She knew something was up.

And at that moment—I had an epiphany. I realized that all the love my mother could muster was irrelevant because I wanted someone else’s love—not hers. I knew parental love was a good thing. But, on that evening and for the next week or two, I didn’t care.

Sometimes, when God says he loves us, we have a similar response. “Well, I guess that it is better that you love me rather than hate me, but right now it doesn’t make any difference to me, because I want ________.”

…someone else’s love

…a job

…respect

…appreciation

…more money

When your desires are more important to you than God, confess them down to size. Some desires are just plain wrong, such as adulterous desires. You don’t confess these down to size; you confess them, turn and run. But most desires have a seed of something good in them. Being loved or appreciated is good. Having a job is good. But when your Father God is irrelevant to you, assume that these good desires have morphed into enslaving giants that must be must be shrunk down to their intended size.

Confession is an essential part of this miniaturization.

“Lord, forgive me. I want more for me. My interests and desires are at the center of the universe. I am undone and unworthy.”

Then a funny thing happens. God’s love begins to make a difference again. It is meaningful, comforting. God’s love was never intended to satisfy desires that have run amok. Instead, his love intends to bring those desires down to size and then fill us to overflowing with his expansive and unlimited blessings.  

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ccef.org/blog/feed on 18 March 2012