Seeing God Clearly: Healing Our Distorted Images

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Promises Remain Even in Silence and Doubt

Even when God seems silent or distant, His promises remain steadfast and unchanging. Abraham and Sarah waited for years, wrestling with doubt and uncertainty, yet God’s covenant with them was not dependent on their performance or understanding but was a sheer gift of grace. In the midst of long seasons of waiting, God’s faithfulness does not waver, and He knows each of us by name, calling us personally into His story. [44:14]

Genesis 17:1-8 (ESV)
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel God has been silent or slow to act, and how might you trust His promises even when you cannot see the outcome?

Day 2: God Appears in Unexpected Ways—Are You Open to Recognizing Him?

God often shows up in ways we do not expect, and our preconceived ideas or disappointments can keep us from recognizing His presence. Abraham was visited by God in the form of three strangers, and at first, he did not realize who was before him. Maturity in faith means letting go of our limited boxes and being open to the God who visits, surprises, and draws near in the ordinary and mysterious moments of life. [51:32]

Genesis 18:1-10 (ESV)
And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

Reflection: Can you recall a time when God may have been present in your life in an unexpected way, and how might you become more attentive to His presence in the ordinary?

Day 3: Jesus Reveals the True Character of God

To know what God is truly like, we look to Jesus, who is the exact representation of God’s being. Jesus dismantles the false narratives of a critical, angry, or permissive God by showing us a God who welcomes sinners, forgives, heals, and calls us into freedom. In Jesus, we see a God whose love is steadfast, whose grace is extravagant, and whose holiness is inseparable from His compassion and power to transform. [01:15:08]

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Reflection: What is one aspect of Jesus’ life or teaching that challenges or reshapes your picture of who God is?

Day 4: God Heals Our Distorted Images of Him

Many of us carry distorted images of God shaped by childhood, culture, pain, or disappointment, but God desires to heal these broken pictures and reveal Himself as He truly is. Through the Spirit, God invites us to bring our misconceptions, wounds, and blurry images to Him, allowing Him to gently clear away what is false and replace it with the truth of His love, goodness, and nearness. [54:05]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: What is one false or painful image of God you carry, and how can you invite God to begin healing and reshaping that image today?

Day 5: Maturity Means Continually Letting God Expand Our View of Him

Faith maturity is a journey of letting God expand and correct our understanding of who He is, moving beyond the boxes we’ve built from stories, culture, or disappointment. Like Abraham, we are invited to keep walking with God, allowing Him to surprise us, challenge us, and reveal Himself more fully—especially through the lens of Jesus and the ongoing work of the Spirit. [56:45]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: What is one area where you sense God inviting you to let go of an old “box” or limited view of Him, and what step can you take this week to let Him reveal Himself more fully?

Sermon Summary

Traveling and encountering God in different cultures has a way of expanding our understanding of who He is, but nothing shapes our view of God more than the stories we carry and the ways we read Scripture. Like Abraham, we are all on a journey of learning to see God more clearly, letting go of the boundaries and boxes we’ve placed around Him. Abraham’s story is a powerful reminder that God is not limited by our expectations or disappointments. Even after years of silence and doubt, God breaks in with promises, new names, and a covenant that is pure gift—unconditional and rooted in His faithfulness, not our performance.

Yet, just as Abraham almost missed God’s presence when He appeared in an unexpected form, we too can miss God when our image of Him is distorted. Our earliest pictures of God are shaped by family, culture, church, and personal experience—often without us realizing it. Sometimes these images are marked by fear, performance, or disappointment. We may see God as critical, angry, or permissive, depending on the stories we’ve absorbed and the pain we’ve endured. But these are not the God that Jesus reveals.

Jesus is the true portrait of God, the one who shows us a Father whose love is not fragile or conditional, but steadfast and extravagant. He dismantles the narrative of a God who is only angry or only permissive, revealing instead a God who is both holy and compassionate, who grieves over brokenness but draws near to heal and restore. When our view of God is blurred by pain or false teaching, Jesus invites us to “repent”—to change our minds and see God as He truly is.

The invitation is to let God heal our distorted images of Him, to sit with the Trinity and allow each Person—Father, Son, and Spirit—to gently clear away what is false and replace it with truth. In this space, we find belonging, safety, and love. We are called to keep walking, like Abraham, letting God reveal Himself anew, trusting that He is always better, wider, and more beautiful than we imagined.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Presence Often Surprises Us God frequently appears in ways we do not expect, just as Abraham did not recognize the Lord when He visited in the form of three men. Our preconceived notions and expectations can blind us to God’s presence in our lives. Maturity in faith means learning to recognize God beyond the boxes we’ve built, allowing Him to reveal Himself on His terms, not ours. [51:32]
2. Our Image of God Is Shaped by Stories—And Needs Healing The stories we inherit from family, culture, and church deeply influence our view of God, often in ways we don’t realize. These images can be distorted by pain, disappointment, or well-meaning but limited teaching. Healing comes as we allow God to gently expose and correct these false pictures, replacing them with the truth revealed in Jesus. [53:12]
3. False Pictures of God Lead to Fear or Powerlessness Seeing God as only critical, angry, or permissive leads to either anxiety, shame, or a sense of helplessness in the face of brokenness. Legalism and performance-based faith cannot produce the love and freedom God desires for us, nor can a God who is indifferent to sin bring true healing. The God Jesus reveals is both holy and loving, able to confront and transform as well as embrace and restore. [63:08]
4. Jesus Is the Clear Portrait of God Unlike Abraham, who had to guess at God’s character, we have Jesus—the exact representation of God’s being. Every narrative about God must be measured against the life and words of Jesus, who shows us a God whose love is steadfast, whose justice is restorative, and whose presence brings healing. To know God truly is to know Jesus, and to let His life reshape our understanding of the Father. [75:08]
5. God Invites Us Into Intimate Relationship and Ongoing Transformation God’s desire is not just to be understood, but to be known and experienced. He invites us to sit with Him, to bring our questions and our pain, and to let Him heal and clarify our vision. This is an ongoing journey—one of repentance, imagination, and encounter—where we are continually invited to see God more clearly and to be transformed by His love. [80:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:36] - The Power of Travel and Expanding Our View of God
[39:04] - Abraham’s Journey and Expanding Boundaries
[40:12] - The Challenge of Teaching and Understanding Scripture
[41:01] - God Sees Us: Revisiting Abraham and Sarah
[42:36] - Genesis 17: God’s Promise and Covenant
[43:25] - Thirteen Years of Silence and Renewed Promise
[44:48] - New Names and God’s Personal Call
[45:23] - Genesis 18: The Mysterious Visitors
[46:23] - Radical Hospitality and the Promise to Sarah
[49:08] - Theophany: God Appears in Unexpected Ways
[51:32] - Recognizing God Beyond Our Expectations
[53:12] - Healing Our Image of God
[54:49] - Childhood Images and the Power of Story
[56:45] - How Our Stories Shape Our View of God
[60:30] - The Critical and Performance-Based God
[63:08] - Legalism, Anger, and the Permissive God
[75:08] - Jesus: The True Portrait of God
[80:50] - Imaginative Prayer: Sitting with the Trinity
[85:56] - Closing Prayer and Invitation to Ongoing Encounter

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 17:1-8 (ESV) — > When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Genesis 18:1-15 (ESV) — > And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” ... (continue through verse 15)

Colossians 1:15 (ESV) — > He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Observation Questions

In Genesis 18, how does God appear to Abraham, and what is unusual about the way Abraham recognizes (or doesn’t recognize) Him? ([45:23])
What changes does God make to Abram and Sarai’s identities in Genesis 17, and what do these new names signify? ([44:14])
According to Colossians 1:15, how is Jesus described in relation to God, and why is this important for understanding God’s character? ([01:15:08])
The sermon mentions that Abraham experienced years of silence from God before receiving a renewed promise. How does Abraham respond when God finally speaks again? ([43:25])

Interpretation Questions

Why might Abraham have missed recognizing God’s presence when He appeared in the form of three men? What does this suggest about how we might miss God in our own lives? ([49:08])
The sermon talks about how our earliest images of God are shaped by family, culture, and experience. How can these early images help or hinder our relationship with God? ([56:45])
The sermon contrasts false pictures of God (critical, angry, permissive) with the God revealed in Jesus. How do these false images affect the way people relate to God and others? ([01:03:08])
What does it mean that Jesus is the “exact representation” of God’s being, and how should this shape the way we read the rest of Scripture? ([01:15:08])

Application Questions

The sermon says that God often appears in ways we do not expect, and that our expectations can blind us to His presence. Can you think of a time when you might have missed God’s presence because He didn’t show up the way you expected? What would it look like to be more open to God’s surprising ways? ([51:32])
Reflect on your earliest picture of God. Was it shaped more by love, fear, performance, or something else? How has that image changed over time, and what still needs healing? ([54:49])
The sermon describes how legalism and performance-based faith can lead to anxiety or shame. Are there areas in your life where you feel you have to “earn” God’s love? What would it look like to let go of that mindset? ([01:00:30])
When disappointment or pain comes, how do you tend to view God? Do you see Him as absent, powerless, or uncaring? How might Jesus’ example help you reframe your understanding of God in those moments? ([01:03:08])
The invitation at the end of the sermon is to “sit with the Trinity” and let God heal our distorted images of Him. What practical steps could you take this week to spend time with God in a way that allows Him to reshape your view of Him? ([01:20:50])
The sermon says that every narrative about God must be measured against the life and words of Jesus. Is there a belief you hold about God that doesn’t line up with what you see in Jesus? How could you begin to let Jesus reshape that belief? ([01:15:08])
Abraham’s journey was one of ongoing transformation and trust. What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to trust Him more deeply or to see Him in a new way? ([44:14])

Sermon Clips

Traveling has pushed the boundary lines that I had drawn around him at times about who he is and what he's about. It's really challenged me to not settle for a small, Americanized version of God. [00:38:56]

I love Abraham because he's so human. I know that's a silly thing to say. But I think it's so true. We were actually, last week, we were teaching, we started teaching the kids about this faith hero named Abraham, right? And what's cool is that we really focused in on how it was much more about how God was so faithful, and Abraham was human. He walked with God. One day with confidence, and the next with doubt. Sometimes he saw God clearly. Other times, he missed him entirely. And yet, through it all, Abraham kept walking one step at a time, growing into friendship with God. And I think that's what Abraham's story invites us to do, too. [00:41:45]

Even if you don't hear from me, even if life feels stagnant, I have not forgotten. I will do what I said I would do. This covenant, it was unconditional. Abram didn't have to perform or prove himself to receive it. It was a sheer gift. [00:44:19]

Maturity in faith means learning to recognize God as he truly is, not who we imagine him to be. Maturity means letting God be who he is, not who we boxed him into. And our maturity begins to flourish when we put our picture of God in light of Jesus. [00:51:50]

I truly believe that God is here today and moving and longs to heal and potentially reshape your image of him. I believe that there are many in this room that have a false picture of God. One that's tied to things that we've been taught or misrepresentations of God or in our disappointment and pain. [00:53:03]

My picture of God, especially the one I formed early on, reverberates all over my life. It's shaped who I am, how I show up with God, how I treat others. It's no small thing. Yet, talk about mystery, right? How can I accurately hold a picture of God when he is so big and wide and mysterious? [00:55:53]

We as humans, we live by stories, right? We are people of stories. From the beginning, our lives were formed by the stories told around us. We have our family stories, right? From our parents first who hand down not just rules, but a whole way of seeing the world. [00:56:50]

And what I know is true is that the broader church has sometimes gotten this wrong as well. We've used God's word as a weapon or recreated him in ways that simply backed up our own worldviews. History, both at large, in the church, in our personal stories, shows how often this picture has been distorted. [00:59:15]

As a young person, my relationship with God felt transactional. Like I needed to behave in all the right ways to receive his love. And when I messed up, I've had to denounce this in my mind many times. I have this picture of God just shaking his head in disappointment. I knew the Bible said God's love was unconditional, but it always felt fragile, conditional. [01:00:45]

We operate performance-based, right? So it's only natural that we would project that same understanding on God. If you were to ask the average person, what must you do to get God to approve you? What do you need to do so that God likes you, loves you? The answer usually sounds something like this. Well, go to church, read my Bible, pray, serve others. Oh, and yeah, don't sin. Or at least keep it at a minimum. [01:02:29]

This mindset, it produces fear and anxiety, and for some, a heavy dose at times of self-righteousness. This doesn't line up with who God is. [01:03:22]

But here's the problem both of those pictures misrepresent the God that Jesus showed the God of the Bible the permissive anything goes God is attractive on the surface but when you look out at the darkness of our world or you look in at the brokenness of your own heart that version of God is powerless he has no holiness no righteous anger no grief over what's wrong and with that he can't heal or transform anything that picture also doesn't line up with who God is. [01:05:31]

When life hurts, when unexpected tragedy hits—as I've shared before, my brother-in-law passed away this last year suddenly and I will tell you this, this rocked my picture of God at times. But I can tell you what's come out on the other side is something so much clearer and I'm so thankful because the reality is we walk through life with tragedy. When prayers go unanswered, when healing doesn't come, when relationships fracture, disappointment then begins to tell the story. [01:07:22]

Sarah's disappointment had painted God as absent, her expectations had made him seem powerless, but God gently reframes the picture not by explaining himself but by making a promise and drawing near. God is a God that draws near. [01:09:40]

That's the key—we know God because we know Jesus. In Jesus we don't just wonder what God is like, we actually get to see him, right? We see his face, we hear his voice, we experience his heart. Colossians 1:15 says he is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God and the firstborn heir of all creation. [01:10:51]

Because of Jesus we are given a new picture, a clearer lens. So let's go back through some of those false pictures that we carry, right, and we're going to see: is this consistent with the God Jesus revealed? [01:13:00]

Not once does Jesus tie God's love to behavior or achievement. In fact, Jesus's actions prove the exact opposite. Who did Jesus hang out with? He chose to show us that God is a God that welcomes sinners, who shares meals and sits at the table with outcasts, tax collectors, and those branded as unworthy. [01:13:30]

The angry God narrative says God is out to get you but Jesus said God is for you and his goodness is running after you even when you don't see it. [01:16:56]

Jesus shows us a God who cares too much to leave us stuck in what's destroying us. It's like I said, the permissive God is powerless against the brokenness of the world, but the God Jesus reveals enters into that brokenness with both compassion and power, grace and truth. [01:18:09]

Jesus teaches us that God is more wonderful and more complex than we could ever imagine and here's the beauty: what Jesus showed us over and over again is that he was a healer, he is a healer. When we see our view distorted, we can ask God himself to begin to heal. [01:18:30]

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