That’s people. That’s not God.

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your FAITHFULNESS known through all generations.” psalm 89:1

I’m transitioning from verses focusing on joy to verses focusing on God’s faithfulness because I’ve learned that understanding our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness leads to lasting joy.

I’ve also learned that the lens through which we view God is often shaped by the people around us. When those influences are grace-filled and reflect God’s unconditional love, we are more likely to develop a healthy understanding of who He truly is. We begin to see Him as a loving Father rather than someone in heaven waiting to punish us.

Unfortunately, when love is performance-based, our view of God can become distorted. We may begin to believe that His love must be earned or that His acceptance depends on our behavior. But when we have a proper understanding of God’s Word, we discover that this is not God’s character. People can be unforgiving, unloving, and ungracious, but God is not.

I want to repeat that because I believe it is so important:

“That’s people. That’s not God.”

God’s love is not conditional. His grace is not earned. His faithfulness does not waver based on our performance.

As believers, God calls us to reflect that same grace and unconditional love to others. Yet unconditional love does not come naturally. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within us and a mark of spiritual maturity. When legalism replaces grace, it becomes difficult to understand the heart of our Heavenly Father. But as we grow in our relationship with Him, we learn that His love is not based on performance—it is rooted in His unchanging character.

The more we understand God’s grace, the more we can rest in His unfailing love and extend that same love to those around us. And the more we trust in His faithfulness, the deeper our joy becomes—not because life is easy, but because we know the One who remains faithful through it all.