Coming alongside people over the past 10 years or so, I have often felt frustrated, confused and overwhelmed as I encounter the brokenness of the world, of people and of myself. Sometimes things can feel too big for me, too complicated, too messy.

Yet through the different things I face in my own life and in the lives of those I walk with, God has shifted my perspective of him time and time again. As I wrestle, he reveals to me more of who he is and what he is like.

There are 3 key perspectives of God I must keep in view, as I journey with people, wherever we are at. As I turn these 3 things round in my mind and view God from each angle, I develop a solid understanding of the reality before me and find the courage to face it.

1. God is great

Keeping God’s greatness in view is vital when coming alongside people. The word ‘great’ is often used to describe something as positive – I’m thinking of the famous breakfast cereal slogan from our stripey friend. Yet recently my 4-year-old asked me, ‘Why was it called the Great Fire of London because it wasn’t a good thing?’ Traditionally the word ‘great’ described more the scale, size and power of something. So, as we reflect on God’s greatness, we become aware of his majesty and magnitude.

Sometimes as alongsiders we face things that feel massive. Maybe it’s something that will take a long time to work through, or maybe we feel totally inadequate to support someone with a particular issue.

We know a God who not only made all things, but he sustains them even now. Colossians 1:16-17 is a testament to this:

‘For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’ 

It is as we see God’s endlessness, his power and lordship over all life, that we can see his ability to handle whatever is in front of us. I may not be able to handle it by myself, but God can.

2. God is good

As we see our vast God, holding all things in his hands, we need to know his goodness. Not his ability or performance, not even just his good track record. As we draw alongside people, we need to trust God’s morality – his passion for justice and rightness to prevail in the world.

We need this perspective as we encounter things in the world we don’t understand and are left with questions of why something could happen. Several friends often speak of the competitive culture of their workplaces, where it seems the meaner you are and the more you stand on people, the more you get ahead. Trying to live as light in those spaces is hard.

As I come alongside someone and as we seek God together, we can trust that whatever God does, it will be good. Ultimately God’s goodness and justice will triumph over all cruelty and injustice. Psalm 27:13 says:

‘I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.’

3. God is kind

And yet, if we hold only these two perspectives, it could be easy to build an image of God that is cold and distant, where it feels like since he is holding these big things (morality and all life, to name just a couple!) so surely he couldn’t care about me. But this vast God, who is seeking justice for the whole world, is kind and loving enough to care for me and you.

His kindness is shown not just to humanity in general; it’s personal. He knows me, he draws near, he is close. His kindness is his provision for me, him speaking his love over me, his forgiveness and mercy to me, his protection over me. This is what our whole relationship is based on.

Without God’s kindness, I could not know either of the other truths about him. God is kind enough to reveal himself to me and enable me to know him. And so, as I walk alongside people, as I experience his kindness in my own life, I can trust that God’s kindness extends to them. He knows them and loves them enough to be directly involved in their lives (Matthew 6:25-34).

God is who he is

God does not compromise who he is. He can remain kind and good and still hold all things together. I know that as God draws near me, he will be good to me and sustain me. This is also true of the people I come alongside. This 3-point perspective enables me to enter into the lives of others, it empowers me to walk with people no matter what, but it also becomes the focal point I want them to gaze on too. I long for those I come alongside to know more fully the great, good and kind God I know. Isaiah 64:8 draws our eyes to him:

‘Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
 We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.’