God's Not Mad at You by Joyce Meyer

We so often feel God is disappointed and angry with us because we are less than He wants and expects us to be. Joyce reminds us that God loves us because he wants to, not because we deserve it. And He never stops loving us. He refuses to leave us alone. “He meets us where we are and helps us get to where we need to be.” (viii)

“God is determined to have intimate relationship with each of us, and the only way he can do that is if He extends grace, mercy and forgiveness to us continually.” (x)

Joyce writes about at all the issues that keep us from accepting God's unconditional love toward us. She looks at perfectionism and its ramifications (verses doing our best because we love Jesus), father issues, rejection, wrong perceptions that muddy our vision, guilt and shame (and phantom leg pain), religion and a religious attitude, trying to be someone we're not, not accepting God's forgiveness, failing to receive God's word, being overwhelmed by sin, having difficulty trusting God, and more.

“The single most important goal of this book,” Joyce writes, “is to unburden you of the baggage you have carried into your relationship with the Lord – hurt, bad teachings, flawed views of a father, a works-based faith, wrong fear of God and other things that are all heavy items of baggage that steel our joy.” (116) Take the focus off ourselves, she advises. Place it on God and His mercy.

This is a very practical book. Joyce tells lots of stories to illustrate her teaching points. If you have difficulty accepting God's love for you and being comfortable in His presence, read this book. “The understanding of grace, forgiveness, mercy, the unconditional love of God and the doctrine of righteousness through Christ is the foundation for everything else in our relationship with and service for God.” (224) Joyce helps us build a good foundation.

Food for thought: “Sad Christians are people who simply don't know what they have in Christ.” (118)
More food for thought: “We are called to be excellent but God leaves flaws in even His choicest saints to that they will always need Him.” (23)

Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. She has written nearly 100 inspirational books. Her TV and radio broadcasts air worldwide.

FaithWords (a division of Hachette Book Group), 240 pages.