Expert: Eleanor Edwards - 1/20/2009

Question
I am a Christian, but lately I have been feeling resentment towards God. I recognize and believe the only way to spend eternity with the Lord is by believing Jesus gave His life for my sins and by trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and shape me.

While I am forever grateful for that, I still cannot seem to get past seeing God as a sort of dictator. I feel like obeying Him has become a need in order to get to heaven rather than a desire. I know God is creator of everything and we are to submit to His will and serve Him, but the idea of being a slave is difficult for me to grasp. Do you have any advice or thoughts of how to overcome this feeling?

Answer
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your question. I can understand your concerns because the idea of giving your life into the hands of another person is scary and fraught with danger.

However, there are two things I would encourage you to bear in mind. The first is that this is God we're talking about. He's not another human who will mess up or make a mistake or tell you to do something that will hurt you. God loves you. He thinks about you continuously. Think of the most wonderful, glorious, joyful future you can imagine for yourself and it will look dull and lifeless compared to all that God has for you.

Secondly, God is not a dictator. You are not His slave nor did He create you to be so. You are His daughter, His little girl. As such, He knows what's best for you but if you decide to do things your own way for a bit, whilst He won't like it very much and it may hurt Him, He won't stop you.

I liken this to my relationship with my own children. My eldest daughter is nearly 6 and she is swiftly coming to the conclusion that she knows the best way to do just about everything! As her parent, I do not want to stifle that. It is good for her to use her creativity. I offer to help her and show her the way but more often than not she declines. That is her choice. I do not force my way upon her.

However, I can't tell you how happy it makes me feel when she comes and asks for help. She asks if we can do it together, if I'll show her how. It's lovely!

It's a somewhat poor example because I often make mistakes and don't have the benefit of God's knowledge and wisdom. However, the point I'm trying to make is that God doesn't need you to obey Him to get to heaven. In fact, having Jesus in your life is as much about getting heaven into your heart as it is about one day getting your heart (and soul and body!) into heaven.

Ultimately, it sounds like your picture of God is a bit slipped. God has lots of characteristics but number one, God is holy and alongside that, God is love. Because He is holy and we're not, He sent Jesus to earth for us. Why? Because He is love.

There's a wonderful love letter God wrote which has been made into a website. I'd encourage you to visit it and read God's poem when you have a few spare moments. It's here: www.fathersloveletter.com

You need to start to get to know this Father in heaven. It really will help you start to see Him as the 'person' He is rather than the bully He is often misrepresented as.

As an aside, you say you recognize the need for Jesus but have you actually talked to God about this? You are spot on. You do need Jesus. But as I alluded to above, you need Him right now, not just as a safety net for the day you die.

I'd love to keep in touch and know what you think of God's love letter so I've included my e-mail address below. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know how you're doing OK?

In His love and service,
Eleanor
allexperts@eleanoredwards.co.uk

John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."