Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Grace is Messy

Home
Meet Steve Austin
About Messy Grace
Books
Speaker
Contact
Categories
- Faith
- Family
  - Marriage
  - Parenting
- Mental Health
- Recovery
- Writing Help
Best of Messy Grace
Support
Supporters
Affirming Churches
ASK STEVE!
Press
The Podcast

Home
Progressive Christian
Children of His Heart

Children of His Heart

Last updated on: January 20, 2014 at 9:11 am by Steve Austin

Children of His Heart 2014-01-20T09:11:55-05:00 Steve Austin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I left my journal at work last night. This particular interpreting assignment is at a location where I especially wouldn’t want my private journal to be taken. I had written a few new entries for GraceIsMessy and when I sat down to type them out at home, I thought I had just left the journal in the car.

When I made it to the car, only to find it missing, I became extremely anxious. Once I came back inside, I checked the kitchen table and counter, the bookshelf, and my bedroom, I went back to check the car one more time. It still wasn’t there. I was sick to my stomach. I paced, thinking of who could have my journal and what terrible things they must be doing to it: reading it (bad enough), erasing my words, reciting it from atop a cafeteria table as they mock me. Oh, the horror!

This particular place of business is full of folks that I just knew would have my journal and be disrespecting all the hours I had poured my heart into its pages. My journal isn’t only full of content for GraceIsMessy; it contains more personal entries, from the deep and semi-secret places of my heart.

Now that the journal is back in my own possession, I can breathe more deeply, not fearing what might be done with the contents of my soul.

But God…

Aren’t you thankful that our response to God doesn’t have to be this way? While every demon in Hell may taunt us with lies and threats, God knows every detail of our lives and accepts us as the children of His heart. We never have to fear the deep places of our souls being known to God because He has known us since before Time began.

Our secrets are safe with God and so our are dreams, fears, failures, and fantasies. The One who knows us better than we know ourselves (at our very best and worst), seeks only to draws us to Himself–never to push us away.

God isn’t a schoolyard bully.

**God isn’**t an over-zealous father who demands perfection.

God isn’t a drill sergeant, barking out orders.

God isn’t like the “The Truman Show”, secretly playing our lives on the big screen for everyone to see.

God is patient and kind.

God is an ever-present help in time of need.

God is our protector and strong tower.

God is love.

And for that, I am thankful.

Previous Post

January 8, 2014

Waiting to Exhale

Next Post

January 29, 2014 Surrendering the Splinter

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anxiety Best of Messy Grace Current Events Depression Faith Family Featured Fiction lgbtq Marriage Mental Health Messy Grace Millennials Parenting Recovery Recovery from a Suicide Attempt Recovery from Abuse Recovery from Porn Addiction Religious Recovery Self Care The Struggle With Church This is My Story (series) Uncategorized Writing Help

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 June 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 September 2011 August 2011 May 2011 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus say to the storm on the Sea of Galilee?

Select your answer to see how you score.

"Peace, be still!" "Depart from me!" "Let there be light!" "Be gone!"