How can we develop a relationship with God?

Praying to God

Do you feel scared about life and the challenges facing you?

Have you ever wondered what it really means to experience God’s love and care?

Some people may think that it is not possible to have a close connection with God—Yet the Bible shows that God is far from distant or harsh.

He is a loving, personal Father who invites us into an intimate relationship, offering guidance, protection, provision, and unconditional love.

For me personally, I find that whenever I face a problem, get hurt, or even pause to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, my first reaction is to think about God in my mind or say a prayer—sharing my thoughts, asking for guidance, or simply expressing gratitude.

God in the Bible

In the Old Testament, God is the Father of His people, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - later named Israel. The people of Israel are described as God’s children who He guides, protects, and forgives, showing care and discipline like a loving parent.

In the New Testament, God’s love and fatherhood become intensely personal. Many Jews living at the time of Jesus, hesitated to call God their Father and were angered when Jesus referred to Him as such.

Jesus, however, boldly called God His Father and taught His followers to do the same.

Through Jesus, all believers are invited into a personal relationship with God—marked by belief and trust in Him, building a connection over time through communication and a deepening thoughtful awareness through reading His Words in the Bible. An emotional and spiritual closeness occurs, building intimacy, love, and care - a personal confidant to whom sensitive aspects of our daily lives can be expressed.

For me, this means that in every situation, whether joyful or challenging, I can approach Him as a loving Father who truly listens.

Let us consider key aspects of God’s Love:

God is a Creator and Sustainer

God is the ultimate source of life. He gives life, sustains it, and knows every detail of our existence.

Hebrews 12:9 (NIV): “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

Our lives are not random. We are created by a loving Father who knows us, cares about us, and sustains us at every moment. Personally, recognising this helps me pause in gratitude for even the smallest blessings, knowing they come from Him.

God is a Provider and Protector

Just as a caring parent provides for their children, God meets our needs and protects the vulnerable.

Psalm 68:5 (NIV):“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”

Matthew 7:11 (NIV):“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

God sees our needs, hears our prayers, and actively protects those who are vulnerable. For me, this is a reminder that I am never alone—He is always attentive and present in my life. When reflecting on personal life events, it is possible to see God’s guiding and supporting hand in the way events unfold.

God is a Loving Disciplinarian

Parents and guardians guide and correct their children to help them grow. Similarly, God guides us, in love, shaping our character and strengthening our faith.

Hebrews 12:10–11 (NIV):“God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Discipline is not punishment; it is a loving way God helps us grow in righteousness and trust – recognising errors of our ways, trying our best to be more suitable followers of Him and his son Jesus.

I have realized that God’s guidance is like working out in a gym: when I lift heavy weights, my muscles get tired, hurt, and I am out of breath—but that struggle is the only way to grow stronger. Similarly, the challenges God allows in my life refine my character and strengthen my faith.

God is Forgiving and Welcoming

God’s love is patient and forgiving. One of the clearest pictures of His fatherly love appears in the parable of the prodigal son: Luke 15:11–32 (NIV)“A son leaves home and makes poor choices, but when he returns, his father runs to meet him and welcomes him back with joy.”

No matter how far we wander, and forget Him or behave as we should not, if we reconsider - God forgives and restores us.

The Shift to Personal Fatherhood

While God’s fatherhood is present in the Old Testament (Isaiah 63:16) which helps us to understand more about Him and his people, the New Testament emphasizes it as intensely personal relationship we can all have with God, through Jesus.

He taught us all to pray: Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV):“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…”

Talking to God builds our relationship with Him. It takes practice over time.

Believers are adopted into God’s family: John 1:12 (NIV):“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Jesus calls God “My Father,” and by extension, believers can call Him “Our Father” (John 20:17). This personal relationship allows us to experience God’s love, care, guidance, and protection firsthand. For me, it means I can approach Him in every circumstance—whether celebrating a joyful moment or enduring challenges that, like heavy lifting in the gym, stretch and strengthen me.

Living life within God’s Love

Understanding God as our Father transforms how we live. It reminds us that we are loved, cared for and never alone.

Prayer becomes a conversation, trust grows deeper, and we can be confident in the assurance that we belong to Him.

Whatever is happening in the world, God will be with us. He has a plan for our life now and in the future.

As God’s Words in the Bible predict, God will send His son Jesus back to the earth, to dispose of human leaders and make the earth a safe and joyous place for everyone  - as seen in the words of the Lord’s Prayer: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven… For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever. Amen”

Personal Reflection

Seeing God as Father makes faith personal. His love is unconditional, His discipline is purposeful, and His forgiveness is always ready. Whether or not we experienced nurturing human fathers, God offers a relationship that fulfils every longing of the heart.

We can all truly be children of God—welcomed, protected, and loved beyond measure.

Thoughts by Anna, a Christadelphian in Hungary.