The Total Sum of God’s Character

“Choose two words to describe yourself.”

I cringe when this common prompt arises. Being quite literal, I immediately think of the exceptions and nuances to an answer. One of my adverbs might be “organized.” However, while my planner and inbox fit the description, my car and desk certainly don’t. Another might be “friendly,” but that depends on the situation because I could also say “introverted.”

Most of us struggle to fully summarize who we are. When we add up all the parts of us, we don’t make sense. We’re complex, constantly growing, changing, adaptable to our contexts and roles, as well as full of contradictions. Understanding who we are is a struggle.

I think one of the reasons we struggle with God’s character is that we impose our own shifting sense of identity on Him. What we see as contradictions in His character are often reflections of our own challenges to reconcile who we are. We struggle to be both truthful and loving, so we struggle to believe God is both.

We struggle to be both truthful and loving, so we struggle to believe God is both. Click To Tweet

But our God, alive, complex, and engaged with us, isn’t growing or changing. His character has no weaknesses or flaws. The God we look to is all He is, all at once, perfectly. 

God’s character is robust. He fills many roles, all of them sufficiently – and without contradiction. So while we might pick any of the common phrases above to describe God, we can also mix and match any pair in unexpected ways and find Him perfect still. 

No matter how you add up the characteristics of God, the sum total is always the same: perfection. There is not one area He needs to grow in, or anything off-balance within Him. And the totality of God’s identity never wavers.

Adam Ramsey puts it this way in Truth On Fire: “We are ever-changing, He is never-changing.”

God isn’t in the process of being made as we are. He’s already complete. He can be all of the “both/ands.” 

This wonderful reality can give us hope in our identity struggles and frustrations with ourselves as we grow and change. God promises that “that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). He can absolutely guarantee this because He’s already complete and everlasting – and He’s working out all those contradictions in your character even today. 

So whatever two words you might pick to describe yourself today, these two are always true of you, and always good news: you are  In Him. 

No matter how you add up the characteristics of God, the sum total is always the same: perfection. Click To Tweet

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6 Replies to “The Total Sum of God’s Character

  1. This’ll preach, Bethany. I love both charts. In a day and age when uncertainty and doubt seem to be elevated almost above faith at times, it’s comforting to know that God’s character is perfect and unchanging, and that we can trust him fully and completely. Hugs, friend.

    1. Thanks so much, Lois! I find it to so comforting and awe-inspiring when I think on God’s character! He is amazing. Merry Christmas, friend!

  2. I wish I could quote the entire blog post. This is so true and simply amazing. The charts are descriptive opening my eyes to more of who God is. And this sentence “There is not one area He needs to grow in, or anything off-balance within Him. And the totality of God’s identity never wavers.” makes me want to shout, Hallelujah! Thank you for this. All of it.

  3. You know Bethany, I’m the same way, It is really difficult for me to describe myself. I’m just blown away when I think of the capacity of the Great I Am. My human brain can’t fathom. This > “the sum total is always the same: perfection. ” Indeed. May you be always blessed with Jesus’s blessings. Warm wishes on Christmas..
    Visiting today from Recharge Wednesday #16&17

    1. My human brain can’t fathom his capacity and whole character either! Blessings to you, too, and Merry Christmas!

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