Jim came to counseling when his life was filled with trouble. He had been jailed and was on probation for domestic violence. He and his wife were separated; his children were in protective care. After a recent fight with his boss, he lost his job. The counselor was wise enough to ask about his relationship with God. That too was a subject of conflict, since his concept of a father had been deeply influenced by an abusive and detached dad.

Many of us have not experienced this degree of turmoil. But we all came into this world separated and alienated from our Creator. Our sin has separated us from God. Down deep, we sense God's judgment on our wrongdoing, and we reject him and rebel against him. But God, in his great mercy and grace, wants to turn us around from being his enemies to being in a relationship of trust and loving friendship with our Maker. This radical change in our position resulted from the just and holy God sacrificing his one and only Son.

Jim learned and accepted how Jesus came to be one of us, died in our place to take the punishment for our sin, and conquered death to fill us with new life through his Spirit. Jim began to understand how wise, good, powerful, and comforting God's presence is. Jim turned from resenting our Father in heaven to yearning for him. God's peace poured into his life and overflowed into his broken relationships.