Many Christians discourage humanizing God because it can in some way diminish the supremacy of God as being omnipotent. I disagree with that. And matter of fact I believe that doing so can actually contribute to a clearer understanding of God and biblical principles. Plus if I am made in God’s image and I am in fact a human, there has to be some overlap there.
I’ve found that humanizing God has transformed the way I look at God. I used to be afraid of God, as this ominous figure with a bunch of no’s, cannots and don’ts, who just ruled over me frowning on all the wrong I was doing. I was often afraid of judgment and started thinking I was being punished for the choices I made. Then I gave God some human character to gain a better understanding.
God loves me. So much so that he wants the best for me. The best. God knows me, even down to my innermost thoughts. He knows that sometimes in my choices, I settle for less, that I am going to go right when I know that I should go left. But he still gives me free will. In my choices, I have repercussions (both positive and negative). That’s life right? But he does give me the tools to make the wisest, best decisions for me. Those which will further reinforce his love for me. Now sometimes I may make a poor decision and have to face the music. If I had taken heed to God’s guidance, perhaps I wouldn’t have experienced the heartache, disappointment, frustration, and hurt. But in the midst of all that, God gives me comfort. Why would a God that love’s me, want me to experience anything but joy?
I am not a master decision maker, but I can say that I have a healthy view of the role of God in my life which has kept me from shying away from my faith when I made a wrong turn or poor choice. It may seem odd to some, but my spiritual relationship is probably one of the healthiest relationships that I have but that is because of my resolve to put human-ness to the God that I believe in.