What countenance is on God's face? The varied answers that people may give would be based on each person's perspective of God. As a child, I disappointed my parents on many occasions and on each of these their countenance was negative in nature reflecting anger, frustration, disappointment or dissatisfaction. Is God the same way? Does his countenance change towards me? For those who are away from God, what is his countenance like? Is he angry? Is he frustrated? Thankfully from the scriptures, we can see that his countenance would be one that reflects compassion.
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. (Hebrews 5:2)
Compassion? That doesn't seem like a relevant response to a disobedient believer. Why would he be compassionate? Why wouldn't he display a negative response towards their lack of regard for his love, salvation and provision? The reason is simple. He has compassion, because he experienced the struggles that we face and the many infirmities that we bear.
As a man, he felt hunger, pain, sorrow and loneliness. Disappointment followed him continually and in his greatest hour of need, he was abandoned by all on earth and in Heaven. He knows that we are not as strong as him and that we are prone to sin and wander. So with compassion, he patiently waits. Oh, don't get me wrong. God still hates sin and never condones it, but he loves us still. He knows that what we need the most during times of discouragement, fear, failure and sorrow is a compassionate friend.
He will continue to work in your life and patiently wait for your return. The days that you are away from him are a loss to you. He will not force you to come back. We must understand that we are not returning to an angry God, but instead to a compassionate father.
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