If you spend any time with me you will eventually hear me talk about the metaphors that God uses in scripture to explain our relationship with Him.  I am fascinated with them.  They are a beautiful picture of God’s love, care, provision and affection for us. I have been pondering the idea that God really does want and enjoy us for several years.  Take some time to look over the metaphors that I have listed below.  Ponder them, ask God questions.  If you allow them to take root they will bring a confidence as you deal with life.  The lie that most of us struggle with is that we are alone.  It is all up to us, we have no one to help us or be with us along the journey.  The metaphors of scripture will help combat or erase that lie.  Imagine how much different your life would be if you were absolutely confident that God was with you.

Here are some of the metaphors that scripture uses to describe your relationship with God.  This is a good start and guide to help you understand your relationship with God.

Identity comes from a source. Identity is something that is given or bestowed while we are in relationship with others.  The validation of our identity is understood by how we impact others.  We have a longing to know that we matter in the lives of others, that we make a difference and that we can’t be replaced.

Validation

Validation is – “to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to”.

I have been pondering God’s validation for most of my life.  Over the years my understanding has grown. I have come to understand that validation comes from understanding who I am in Christ and understanding who God is. Validation comes when we understand who we are. Knowing yourself and knowing God are intricately connected together.  You can’t truly know yourself or God’s validation of you without living in relationship with Him.  We usually get caught up trying to get validation for what we do rather than who we are.

The metaphors that scripture uses to describe your relationship with God is a good start and guide.

Letter From A Loving Father

Many of us struggle with connecting to a loving father.  You may have had a wonderful father and are able to recognize the impact of his love and consistency in their life.  But sadly many become angry because of all the wounds that a father represents.  They have wounds from their father because of what he did or did not do.  These wounds prevent them from knowing their real Father – the one that knit them together in their mother’s womb because of His passionate love and desire for them.  You are wanted and enjoyed by your Heavenly Father.  Below is a list of scripture in the form a letter to you.  Read and meditate on them.

How does God validate you?  With the love and sacrifice of His son.  My head believes this but, does my heart and behavior reflect that?

Everything a man does is a search for validation

The question is not “if” a man is seeking validation.  The question is “where is he seeking validation from?”

To validate something is to “give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to it.”  What makes you feel like you have value and worth?  We are designed to want validation, the feeling of significance.  The problem is that  we try to get validation from what we think we can control or mange.  We avoid mystery and things we can’t control.  We seek validation from people, work, friends, accomplishments or our spouse.  They become the barometer of our feelings and worth.   The treadmill of acceptance can wear us out.  Always trying to please people or control situations.  The solution is that we kill our heart or hyper control our world.  We stop believing that we have value or significance in the world.  This will kill your heart, “the wellspring of life” – Proverbs 4:23.  Or we control the people in our world by killing them with kindness or managing everything by ourselves.  This will flat wear you out.

The problem is we keep God at arms length and try appease Him with church attendance and trying to be nice.  God’s love and acceptance is the key to value and significance. The journey of believing  brings freedom and renewed energy.  How does God validate you?