How many times will it need to be declared that we can have as much of God as we want? And how many tears will we shed from the sadness of knowing that most people only want enough to get by? Having a serious spiritual relationship with God is difficult, as it takes a high level of desire and discipline on our part. If we are not passionate about developing a constant awareness of His presence, our emotions have a tendency to slide into an easier routine of just calling on Him when we need something. Having a covenant bond based on only what He can give us is not what He had in mind.
Since God is not tangibly visible and does not talk to us audibly, we are left to our own diligence and responsibility to bond with Him by faith. Yes, we become stronger the more we make time to know Him. Do you take the time to get away with Him every day, to share your heart, and tell Him how much you love and trust Him? We are familiar with our Thanksgiving holiday, where we spend the day thinking about our blessings and telling Him how much we appreciate all that He does for us, but the truth is that every day we should express our love and worship to Him, even when we are going through a hard time. We desire to hear about how much He loves us and wants to bless us, but if we only love and praise Him when things are going well, what kind of a relationship is this?
When we neglect knowing God, we are missing the beauty and fullness of loving Him. Some are convinced that if they attend church, this is their way of proving they know and love Him. However, in reality, just shaking hands, singing songs, and listening to a devotion is not the same as learning how to fellowship with Him daily. Do not misunderstand me, going to church is wonderful, but it does not take the place of living in the constant awareness of God’s presence. Advancing in our faith and progressing in our personal relationship with Him comes from reading, studying, worshiping, growing in our discernment, and praying. Only attending an assembly without pursuing Him in the secret place of the Most High is just settling for religious traditions. You see, reaching the higher levels of spiritual maturity will not just happen automatically; it requires us to draw nearer to Him.
According to the definition of conditional love, it’s an affection and attachment dependent on specific behaviors, achievements, or conditions being met. It is “earned” love, often taking the form of “I’ll love you if”, and it can be withdrawn or withheld if expectations are not met. This creates a high-pressure, insecure environment, often leading to people-pleasing, emotional invalidation, and anxiety. An example would be I’ll love you if you make good grades, or buy me jewelry, but if you don’t do it, I will be offended and resent you. This is a common dynamic in our earthly relationships, but when it comes to God, we are not to have a “Magic Genie” love that is conditional on what we want Him to do for us. Conditional love is often contrasted with unconditional love, which is given freely, regardless of circumstances.
It’s true we do not always understand why things happen, but this is why it’s important to draw as close to God as we can, so that even in the midst of difficult circumstances, we can rest in our faith in knowing that He will always love us. This life is only temporary, and our highest honor is to trust our Creator. In Jeremiah 33:3, the Lord invites us to seek His face regardless of our emotional state. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show you great and mighty things which you have never known.” It’s worth considering that neglecting to be bonded with Jesus could be the reason why many people are anxious and fearful about their lives and the life to come. Allow the love and joy of the Lord to lift you up today, and remember that God has always loved you and is longing to spend the rest of eternity with you. We are a work in progress, and our lives are to be a daily classroom dedicated to learning who God is and who we are in Him.
Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, certified chaplain, author, and teacher. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.
