God as a Friend?

Typically, I hate that analogy.

God is our Creator, Father in Heaven, Savior, and Holy Spirit that lives in us.

To reduce all of that to "friend" seems a like it really misses the point.

However, I heard some great perspective from the evening service tonight at church. I've worked with the high school youth group for almost six years now and I was reminded one of the greatest reasons why: we grow as Christians together (in the soil of HOPE, as Trygve taught me some years ago while I was a student at Hope College).

The youth group just arrived home from their missions trip, serving at camp, and one of the offered some incredible perspective on how God is ACTUALLY our friend.

*Paraphrased*

"I've always known that God loves me and that He's my Savior and King. That part I've always understood and made sense to me. What really got me is how incredibly personal He is, like a REAL friend. I've never really understood until now and it's incredible."

We were told that this was an incredible (and emotional) discussion and I loved hearing about it. I don't like the idea of reducing God simply to a friend, but when it's put in the perspective of that close friend who gets you on the deepest level and loves you like another family member (as opposed to acquaintances that we might label "friend" but not really truthfully)... that I certainly agree with.

Proud as can be of these kids. Looking forward to the rest of summer and what it holds with them.