God’s Love and Welcoming Face
Last Thursday I shared photos that illustrate the tender emotions mothers feel and live out in their actions. I appreciate the kind mama who emailed me this response:
This was tender to my heart today. I love how in needed times our Father has a mother heart also and looks into our hearts and faces compassionately as a mother letting one know we are not alone.
These are comforting words and true ones. She graciously allowed me to share her words with you.
God’s Word has beautiful passages in which God uses the love of a mama to express His love. In Isaiah He comforts Israel by telling them about how He is going to bless Jerusalem. He says:
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 66:13
I love that picture of a mother comforting her child. The photos I shared on Thursday pictured mothers with young children, but when I read that phrase, I picture a mother comforting an adult. As children we never outgrow the need for our mother’s comfort. As mothers we always want to comfort our children of any age.
How very precious that our Father God loves us in that same way. How very precious that we can depend on Him.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem before His crucifixion, He expressed His concern for the city with these words:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets
and stones those who have been sent to her!
How often I wanted to gather your children together,
the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
and you were unwilling.”
Matthew 23:37
Jesus gave the apostles John and his brother James the name, “Sons of Thunder.” John saw Jesus die. He was with Him after the resurrection. He was filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. He lived as a follower of Jesus. He taught people the Gospel.
God inspired John to write portions of His Word. Think of the comfort John felt and the fellowship with God he experienced when he wrote:
See how great a love the Father has given us,
that we would be called children of God;
and in fact we are.
1 John 3:1
When our children are little, they “cast all their anxieties” on us with abandon. We are ready to welcome and to do whatever we can. No matter the age of our children, we are always ready to welcome them into our arms and hearts when they are in need. We long to shower them with our love and long to receive theirs. God feels that way about us. He loves us abundantly and longs for us to love Him in return.
When their children are in need, wise mothers give generously—but also wisely. Sometimes we give what they ask for. Sometimes we say yes. Sometimes we say no, I have something better for you. The wise mama gives what they need. God is our perfect example of that. He is always ready with open arms and a welcoming face for us.
I have enjoyed looking back at each of the photos I shared on Thursday. Let’s look at one of them again.
Put yourself in the place of the baby in the cradle. Think of your Heavenly Father looking at you the way this mama looks at the baby and think of yourself looking back at Him with total trust in His welcoming face.
Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
so that He may exalt you at the proper time,
having cast all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares about you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
