READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; PSALM 35:27; PROVERBS 3:11-12; ISAIAH 62:4

If you grew up in church, you’ve probably heard over and over that God loves you. And He does! But did you know that He also likes you?

This is a truth I’ve struggled to accept. It’s easy for me to believe that God loves me, because that’s His job! It’s just who He is. But I can fall into the false belief that it’s only a duty-bound love. That He loves me only because He has to, not because He truly enjoys who I actually am.

Make no mistake, God does love us because of who He is. His character is unchanging, and so is His love for us. Nothing can shake that. But I think it’s important to also remember that God likes us. He enjoys our presence with Him. He delights in us—and even rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). He created us and gifted us with our unique personalities and abilities—and He likes what He made!

It may seem trivial or self-centered to wonder if God likes us, but it really does matter. It affects the way we interact with Him. We may believe that, because we are fallen and sinful, we are unlikeable. And when we believe that we are unlikeable, all we can focus on is our own smallness and unworthiness before the Lord, instead of focusing on His goodness and majesty and love. But as the Holy Spirit helps us grow more secure in our belief that God legitimately enjoys our presence and wants to spend time with us, it frees us from that insecure self-focus on our own unworthiness and allows us to truly enjoy God’s presence like He enjoys ours.

Jesus died and rose again to make the way to be with us forever. Let’s take a moment and think about that. He died because He wanted to be with you. He most definitely likes you. • Taylor Eising

• Do you find it easier to believe that God loves you or that God likes you? Why? How does this affect the way you view God and the way you approach Him in prayer?

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

READ: EXODUS 34:6; PSALM 86; 1 JOHN 3:1

I stepped off the school bus and headed down the sidewalk toward my third-grade class. Sticking my hands in my pockets, I felt for the envelope with that day’s lunch money. I expected to find it there, but I wanted to reassure myself.

However, I didn’t locate the envelope of coins in my pockets, or in my backpack. The payment for my lunch that day must have fallen onto my seat on the bus, but I had already watched the school bus pull away from the building.

I knew I could charge that day’s lunch and bring payment for it the next day. But I dreaded explaining to my parents that I’d lost the money. I feared getting in trouble for being irresponsible. Later, at dinner that night, I somberly told my parents about the missing money. Although I anticipated a scolding, my dad responded differently.

“That’s okay. Don’t worry; we have more money to cover it,” he replied.

My whole body slumped with relief. Instead of showing frustration with me for my mistake, my dad showed me mercy. That day, my earthly father gave me a glimpse of our heavenly Father. No parent is perfect (mine included), but our parents do influence how we believe God sees us. In this instance, even though losing my lunch money was a mistake and not a sin, my dad’s response helped me trust God’s heart for me.

For those who put their trust in Jesus, resting in the work He did on the cross to pay for our sins and give us His righteousness, we receive God’s mercy. No longer are we charged with guilt because of our sin; instead, we belong to a Father who shows us His goodness with abounding grace and compassion. His mercy is bigger than any sin we could commit or any mistake we could make. As His children, we can revel in the truth that God responds to us, even in our messes, not with great anger—but with great love. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Has someone ever shown you God’s heart toward you? What was that like?

• Do you struggle to believe that God is compassionate toward you in your mistakes? If so, why do you think that is? We all feel this way from time to time. Who are trusted Christians you could talk to about this, such as parents, pastors, youth leaders, or counselors?

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 1:1-9; 8:12

Have you ever been outside during a cloudy night when you couldn’t see the moon or even the stars? The darkness can feel all-consuming. And trying to find your way through that darkness can lead to some serious scrapes and bruises!

Sometimes, going through life can feel the same way. The darkness of sin and brokenness feels all-consuming. It’s easy to get lost.

Thankfully, wherever we go, we always have light with us. The apostle John starts his Gospel by declaring that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). Later in this book, John recounts how Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Apart from God, all people are lost in the darkness of sin, but Jesus gives His light to everyone who trusts in Him.

And we really do need light, even when we think we don’t. Just like trying to find our way home in a pitch-dark night, going through life without the light of Jesus will leave us lost and hurt. But Jesus saves us from the darkness of sin through His death and resurrection, and He leads us safely home. As John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” We can always rely on Him, even in the darkest nights. • A. W. Smith

• If we know Jesus, we know the Light of the World. Sometimes we don’t feel like we need Him, but making our way through life without Him is like walking in darkness. Jesus wants to light our way. To learn more about the good news of Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page.

• As Christians, we’re looking forward to the day Jesus will restore creation and rid the world of darkness forever. In the meantime, we know He is always with us. In what ways have you experienced the darkness of our broken world lately? What has left you feeling hurt and lost? Jesus knows all our pain and confusion, and He longs to comfort us in His love. Consider taking a moment to come to Him in prayer, telling Him about your hurts and receiving His compassion.

• When you feel overwhelmed by the darkness, who is a trusted Christian in your life who can help remind you of the reality of Jesus’s all-powerful light?

“I [Jesus] am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)