As a teen, I didn’t think of my parents as strict, but they did parent with boundaries that kept their four children hemmed in and well nurtured. Most of my rebellion was done covertly because I didn’t want to disappoint them, I just wanted my way.
As a young adult and believer in Christ, I treated God much the same way. I kept a distance from Him because I didn’t want to feel conviction, and I didn’t want to disappoint Him either. However, keeping God at arm’s length left me vulnerable to many temptations. Learning to invite Him into every part of my life, I experienced intimacy with Him, but also came to understand that His boundaries, like my parents, came from His immense love for me, that He never shames me, and that His grace is unending towards me.
If there is an area in your life where you’ve been holding God at a distance, I encourage you to invite Him into it, He will never shame you and His compassion is abundant towards you.