I spend a lot of time thinking about thoughts. My thoughts -- and everybody else’s thoughts. Especially their thoughts about me. I like to convince myself that I’m good at “reading people.” Which is a fancy way of saying, “I’m pretty sure I know what you’re thinking, even though you haven’t told me in actual words.”
The problem, of course, is that sometimes I’m completely wrong. When I start projecting my own insecurities onto everyone else. I’m convinced that facial expression means you’re upset with me, when in reality, you might just be having indigestion. But I’ve already convinced myself that I’ve done something wrong and I need to work extra hard to win your favor back.
I do the same thing with God. When I don’t get it right. When I forget to pray. When I don’t hear his voice as clearly. I’m convinced I know exactly what that means. He’s officially tired of me and my failures. I’ve lost His favor, and I need to work hard to earn it back. Or, on opposite end of the spectrum, my failure paralyzes me and I want to give up.
Here’s the truth. I can’t actually read people’s minds. I need to start asking them what they’re thinking, and stop assuming I already know.
I don’t have to read God’s mind, either. Because He already told me the truth.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1.
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:33-34, 38-39.
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wak up, you are still with me!” Psalm 139:17-18.
Charles Spurgeon said, “The task of counting God's thoughts of love would be a never-ending one. Even could we count the sands on the seashore, we should not then be able to number God's thoughts, for they are "more in number than the sand." God thinks upon us infinitely: there is a limit to the act of creation, but not to the might of divine love.”
When Jesus makes us His, He goes all in. His thoughts toward us are love. He is our champion, not our accuser. He is with us, in us, and for us.
Now... who's up for a trip to the beach? I have some sand to count.
