Who is God? What do you imagine this Divine Being is like? Your image of God is likely shaped by a variety of factors, including what you were taught in your faith community, the way clergy modeled themselves, your relationship with parents, or significant life events. These can intersect with each other. For example, you might have learned to view God as a father based on Scriptures that use this metaphor. This in turn is associated with your relationship with Dad. If Dad was patient and kind this can lead to a positive image of God. But if Dad was distant or abusive, a picture of a harsh God might develop. Many of us also have impressions of God based on life circumstances. When tragedy strikes, we can become disillusioned. Does God not care? Why didn’t God intervene?
We cannot see God physically and so we naturally draw conclusions based on what we do know: our relationships and life experiences. The biblical authors did similarly. They described God using images from real life. God is a king ruling the land (Psa 47:7-8), a humble shepherd in the field with sheep (Psa 23), an impenetrable rock (Deut 32:4), a pregnant woman writhing in labor (Isa 42:14; see also Deut 32:18), a warrior in battle (Ex 15:3), a mother hen protecting her young (Matt 23:37). God is even described as clothes you can put on (Gal 3:27).[1] As Paul the Apostle said, we see through a glass darkly (1 Cor 13:12). Our ability to describe God in human words is limited. But this does not mean we are left only with an image of God we have invented. Just as the Israelites and early Christians encountered God, so also we can experience God.
How do we experience God? It may be in the beauty of a sunrise. Or in the kindness of a friend. Scripture says that the character of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). We can recognize God’s presence or absence by these traits. In fact, even though we cannot see God, we experience God in the love we give to one another (1 John 4:12). This is why many people have discovered God even in difficult times. While circumstances might not always change, it is possible to feel a supernatural peace in the middle of a storm. These spiritual experiences, along with the witness of the biblical authors help us to develop an accurate image of God.
Our image of God is significant because it affects how we understand ourselves and the way we treat other people. Who we imagine God to be is who we become. If God is hard to please, then we will naturally use others as the measuring rod for our own performance. Judging others will make us feel superior, less sinful, and therefore worthy of God’s love. On the other hand, if we know the truth of God’s incredible mercy toward our imperfections, we are more likely to offer the same. As Jesus said, the one who is forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:47). Coming to experience God by noticing the fruit of the Spirit displayed in people around us and seeing God in the Person of Jesus (John 1:18), will transform our image of God, and therefore, us as image-bearers.
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This post is excerpted from Karen R. Keen, The Jesus Way: Practicing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.
[1] See Lauren F. Winner’s lovely discussion on this along with other metaphors for God in her book Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God (New York: HarperCollins, 2015).