People who don't know the true character of God - who don't

Host: The soft glow of the evening filled the room, the quiet hum of the outside world fading into the background as Jack sat in his favorite chair, flipping through the pages of a worn book. Jeeny stood by the window, her gaze drifting beyond the glass, lost in thought. The atmosphere in the room felt calm, yet there was an unspoken weight to the moment — the kind of weight that comes with considering something deeply meaningful.

Jeeny: (gently) “Joyce Meyer once said, ‘People who don't know the true character of God - who don't believe He is merciful, gracious and slow to anger - can never have a close, personal, intimate relationship with Him.’”

Jack: (pausing, reflecting) “That’s a powerful statement, isn’t it? It speaks to the foundation of any relationship. To know someone intimately, you need to understand their true nature, their heart. If you don’t understand God’s mercy and grace, then how can you truly connect with Him on a personal level?”

Jeeny: “Exactly. If you don’t believe in those qualities, it’s hard to feel comfortable with someone. How can you trust them if you’re unsure about their nature or their ability to understand your flaws, your struggles?”

Jack: (nodding) “It’s a lot like any relationship. If you don’t believe that the other person has the patience or the understanding to accept you, warts and all, then how could you ever feel safe enough to truly be yourself?”

Host: The soft ticking of the clock filled the silence, a reminder that time continued moving forward, but their conversation had already settled into something deeper, something eternal. It wasn’t just about understanding God’s character; it was about trusting it — trusting that mercy and grace were not just abstract concepts, but the very heart of how He engaged with His creation.

Jeeny: “And I think that’s where a lot of people struggle, right? They may believe in God, but if they don’t truly understand His nature — that He is slow to anger, full of mercy, and gracious — then it’s hard to see Him as someone you can have a personal connection with. It feels more distant, more transactional.”

Jack: (thoughtfully) “Yeah, when you don’t believe that God’s character is fundamentally loving, it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing Him as a figure who is waiting to punish, to judge. And that creates distance. But when you realize He’s merciful and gracious, when you see that He’s slow to anger, it changes everything. You start to feel like you can approach Him, no matter your struggles.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly) “Exactly. It’s that invitation. Knowing that God isn’t standing at a distance, waiting for you to mess up so He can cast judgment. Instead, He’s right there, ready to embrace you, to understand you, no matter where you are or what you’ve done.”

Host: The quietness of the room seemed to wrap around them like a comforting embrace. It wasn’t just about religion or theology; it was about the idea that true connection — whether with God or another person — is based on the belief that mercy, grace, and patience are the foundation of the relationship.

Jack: “And I think that’s why understanding His character is so important. Because it’s in that understanding that we can truly connect with God. Not out of fear, not out of a sense of obligation, but out of a real desire to be in relationship with Him. To be open, vulnerable, and honest about who we are.”

Jeeny: “Right. When you believe that He is merciful and slow to anger, you stop seeing Him as someone you have to impress. Instead, you see Him as someone who already knows you completely and still loves you. It’s that kind of acceptance that allows for true intimacy.”

Jack: “It’s a relationship built on trust and understanding. Knowing that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, His grace is always there to welcome us in.”

Host: The calm in the room deepened, the words settling between them like a quiet revelation. In that silence, the truth seemed clear: the foundation of any real connection, especially with God, lies in the understanding that grace and mercy are the cornerstones, and from there, everything else — the intimacy, the trust, the love — can grow.

Jeeny: “It’s comforting, isn’t it? To know that it’s not about being perfect, but about being real with God. When we understand His character, we can be open to relationship — to that closeness that comes from knowing He accepts us, just as we are.”

Jack: (nodding) “Yeah. And I think that’s what makes a relationship with God so unique. It’s not about earning His love or proving ourselves. It’s about accepting that He loves us first, and that love allows us to draw closer, to connect with Him on a deeper level.”

Host: The room felt still, the conversation now lingering in the air, a shared understanding that true connection — with God or anyone — starts with trust, mercy, and grace. It’s in those qualities that the foundation of any meaningful relationship is built.

And as the scene faded, Joyce Meyer’s words lingered —

that mercy, grace,
and being slow to anger
are the keys to intimacy,
the foundation of a relationship built on trust,
and the gateway to a personal connection
that is real, open, and full of love.

For true connection is not about perfection,
but about understanding,
accepting, and embracing the fullness of who we are.