Halo effect.” “Teacher’s pet.” Regardless of what we call it, it is that phenomena where a person can seemingly do no wrong. As long as the person stays within the parameters of defined protocol, he receives heaps of praise.
Many people may never have experienced that situation within a classroom or work-related setting, but we can experience that same dynamic in our relationship with God. Instead of fearing that we will get zapped or punished for our next words or actions, freedom pervades our spirits. We come to the understanding of what the Bible means when it says, “God is love” (1 John 4:16). And as we do this, we realize that it is not God’s intention to restrict our beings, but rather to free us to do His will and fulfill all the desires He has placed on our hearts.
Paul wrote, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:1–2). When such freedom is given to us because of God’s incredible love, we realize that we can trust Him with assurance.
As we walk according to His prescribed ways, we will experience freedom like we have never known—and we will learn to trust Him with everything.