The Furious Longing of God

1. God's Furious, Unconditional Longing for You

I believe His desire for you and me can best be described as a furious longing.

Intense divine desire. Brennan Manning introduces God's love not as a gentle sentiment, but as a "furious longing"—an enormous vitality and strength seeking union with humanity. This intense energy, akin to "the fury of a gathering storm," is a reckless, raging passion that defies conventional, tame notions of divine affection. It's a love that is beyond our wildest desires, rectitude, or wickedness, and cannot be reduced to a "caged songbird."

Personal transformation. Embracing this furious longing personally transforms one's inner life. The "drumbeats of doom" are replaced by a song, loneliness eases, and external praise or criticism lose their power. This realization fosters a deep awareness that the Father not only loves but likes you, leading to an end of self-comparison and a profound sense of being seen by Jesus with infinite tenderness. This shift moves us from "I should pray" to "I must pray."

Beyond sentimentality. This love is not "gauzy sentimentality" but a "boiling bouillabaisse of shock bordering on disbelief, wonder akin to incredulity, and affectionate awe tinged by doubt." It's a love that cannot be tamed or boxed, but is simply and startlingly Jesus, the effulgence of the Father's love, calling us to intimacy despite any aversion we might feel. It's a love that whispers, "Come then, my beloved, my lovely one, come."

2. The Abba Revelation: Intimacy with God

Abba means in literal English: daddy, papa, my own dear father.

Revolutionary intimacy. Jesus revolutionized our understanding of God by revealing Him as "Abba," a term of profound intimacy and childlike trust, like a baby calling out "daddy." This was a radical departure from the vague, impersonal terms of pagan philosophers or even the warmer but still distant God of the Old Testament prophets. It signifies an invitation to address the infinite, almighty God with the familiarity of a child on a father's lap.

Childlike prayer. This Abba experience transforms prayer from a duty ("I should pray") to an essential need ("I must pray"). It encourages a prayer life characterized by simplicity, candor, and boundless trust, knowing that Abba delights in our presence regardless of our activity. The story of the 78-year-old nun, healed from deep trauma by repeatedly praying "Abba, I belong to You," powerfully illustrates this transformative intimacy, leading her to declare, "I'm Daddy's little girl."

Surrender and trust. Even in His deepest agony in Gethsemane and on the cross, Jesus' first word was "Abba," demonstrating ultimate surrender and trusting obedience. His final cry, "Abba, I'm coming home," signifies a profound at-one-ment in God's furious love. This revelation assures us that God's love is reliable and always tender, regardless of our state of grace or disgrace, and that He is always where His Abba is.

3. Union with Christ: Living as One

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Love seeks union. The very nature of love is to seek union, and God's furious longing culminates in a "symbiotic fusion" with us. This isn't a trivial matter but defines the very purpose of life, transcending all other considerations. The daring metaphor of Jesus as bridegroom suggests God desires more than just an intimate relationship; He seeks an ineffable oneness, a participation in the divine life itself, as expressed in John 17:22-23.

Radical oneness. The apostle Paul's declaration, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me," highlights this radical oneness, where a Christian's acts become "somehow the acts of Christ." This invitation to union is for everyone—not just mystics or the "well-known," but for "those poor enough to welcome Jesus," including the lonely, the old, the hospitalized, and those who open their hearts in trust.

Abiding restful union. John's Gospel emphasizes "abiding restful union" as its starting point, portraying Jesus' oneness with the Father and His desire for our oneness with Him. This means living in His smile and hanging on His words, ceasing to strive and simply knowing God. It shifts focus from monitoring spiritual growth or seeking shortcuts to holiness, to simply "doing the next thing in love," trusting in the reality of this profound union that "surpasses understanding."

4. Grace, Not Performance, Defines God's Love

The furious love of God knows no shadow of alteration or change. It is reliable. And always tender.

Unconditional acceptance. God's furious love is never based on our performance or conditioned by our moods. It is a constant, reliable, and tender love that accepts us as we are, not as we should be. This stands in stark contrast to the "splenetic god of alternating moods" or the "niggling customs officer" often portrayed by traditional religious leaders who emphasize rule-keeping and judgment.

Beyond self-righteousness. Jesus came "not to call the self-righteous, but sinners." The kingdom of God is for "a larger, homelier, and less self-conscious people who know they are sinners because they have experienced the yaw and pitch of moral struggle." Those truly filled with light are those who have gazed deeply into their own imperfect existence, recognizing their need for grace rather than relying on their own efforts or perceived righteousness.

Radical rethinking. Believing in God's unconditional love requires "radical rethinking and profound emotional readjustment." It challenges our "impoverished, circumcised, traditionalist, legalistic, human perceptions of God." This revolutionary truth, that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus, reshapes our image of God and ourselves, moving us from self-hatred and shame to accepting ourselves as deeply, passionately, and unconditionally loved, as St. Augustine noted: "In loving me, you made me lovable."

5. Healing Through Affirmation: See the True Self

To affirm a person is to see the good in them that they cannot see in themselves and to repeat it in spite of appearances to the contrary.

God's healing call. God calls every Christian to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus, which is a response to crisis in another's life. This healing is not just physical, but often an inner transformation through affirmation. It means passing on the unconditional acceptance received from Jesus, seeing the good in others that they cannot see in themselves, and speaking it into their lives, regardless of their outward appearance or past actions.

Zacchaeus's transformation. Jesus exemplified this by affirming Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector. While others isolated him, Jesus saw his potential, invited Himself to dinner, and said, "Zacchaeus, come down. I want to have supper in your house today." This simple act of belief and affirmation transformed Zacchaeus, leading him to repentance and generosity. This challenges us to identify the "Zacchaeus" in our own lives—those we've given up on—and extend a hand of love and belief.

Courage to be. We possess the power to give others "the courage to be" through our affirmation. This might involve reaching out to estranged family, resolving conflicts, or showing respect to those we find difficult. The story of Larry Malaney, healed by his father's affirmation despite public taunts, illustrates how a single act of furious love can change a life's direction, resurrecting a person to newness of life and purpose, enabling them to "dream and fight and bear and run where the brave dare not go."

6. Approach God with Boldness (Chutzpah)

The one thing we owe absolutely to God is never to be afraid of anything.

Divine audacity. The letter to the Hebrews encourages us to approach God's throne of grace with "chutzpah"—supreme self-confidence, boldness, and nerve. This means crying out boldly and merrily to God in all temptations, afflictions, and even in the pangs of death, knowing we will find mercy and grace. It's an audacious trust in God's character, not our own worthiness, and a rejection of fear.

Ask for big gifts. Just as Arnold Palmer was given an entire golf club when he only asked for one, we are encouraged not to ask for small gifts in the presence of the King. Bartimaeus, the blind man, boldly called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" and when asked "What do you want?", he replied, "I want my sight!" and received it. This teaches us to articulate our deepest desires to God without hesitation, trusting in His boundless generosity and power to respond.

Drop security blankets. Bartimaeus's act of dropping his cloak—his only security as a blind man—to follow Jesus symbolizes letting go of our own perceived securities to embrace God's call. What represents security for you? Jesus asks us to drop it and boldly ask for what we truly want, confident that His furious love will meet our needs and lead us into a life of unwavering faith, free from fear.

7. The Gospel is a Radical, Transforming Fire

The gospel is not a children’s fairy tale, but rather a cutting-edge, rolling-thunder, convulsive earthquake in the world of the human spirit.

Shattering truth. The gospel, when preached purely, is not comfortable or bland; it's a radical, revolutionary force that "exalts, frightens, shocks, and forces us to reassess our whole life." It shatters comfortable piety and preconceived notions, presenting a God who suffers crucifixion, demolishing all previous conceptions of divinity and humanity. This "flashing spirit of Jesus Christ breaks new paths everywhere," bringing not peace, but a revolution.

Call to join Christ. Jesus' invitation is not "Don't weep for Me!" but "Join Me!" The Christian life is meant to mirror His, embracing suffering and self-emptying. We are called to strip ourselves of earthly cares, worldly wisdom, and the desire for human praise, even the "self-flattery that suggests we are being humble." This means preferring contempt to honor, ridicule to praise, and humiliation to glory, as classic formulas of Christian greatness.

Beyond platitudes. The gospel should not be reduced to "pious platitudes." It's a summons to conversion and an announcement of the messianic era, demanding a radically different lifestyle of constant prayer, unselfishness, and "unbridled involvement in God." This "baptism by fire" moves us beyond theoretical abstractions to an intensely real, "quasi-experiential realization of the warmth and tenderness of God’s love," empowering us to respond to His limitless generosity.

8. True Discipleship is Expressed in Love

The only thing that matters is the faith that expresses itself in love.

Love as the sole criterion. Jesus explicitly stated that the one criterion for discipleship in the New Israel of God is love for one another, "even as I have loved you." This love is not based on church attendance, Bible reading, or moral perfection, but on deep and delicate respect, cordiality, and reverence for the sacred dimension of each human personality. It's the love that forgives "seventy times seven" and keeps no score of wrongdoing.

Practical love in action. Matthew 25 reveals that our inheritance in the kingdom is tied to how we treat "the least of My brothers and sisters"—feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, comforting the sick, and visiting prisoners. What we do to others, we do to Jesus. This challenges the notion that discipleship is primarily about internal piety, emphasizing outward, tangible acts of compassion.

Professional lovers. Paul's declaration that "the only thing that matters is the faith that expresses itself in love" defines greatness in God's kingdom. The most Christlike person is the one who loves the most. Instead of being known for memorizing scripture or holding positions of power, Christians are called to be "professional lovers" who cause people to say, "How they love one another!" This radical love is the world's only true witness to Jesus.

9. The Power of Self-Emptying Love (Giving Tree)

Significantly, Jesus chose the giving tree, His cross, as the demonstrative sign of His absolutely furious love for men and women.

Jesus, the Giving Tree. Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" serves as a powerful parable for Jesus' self-emptying love. Like the tree that gives its apples, branches, and trunk until only a stump remains, Jesus "emptied himself," pouring out His blood on the cross—the ultimate "giving tree"—as the demonstrative sign of His furious love. This act of love is the "mightiest act of love ever to arise from a human soul."

Beyond superficial piety. Christianity is not merely about going to church, reading the Bible, or adhering to a list of moral rules. Such actions, while potentially good, do not fully capture the profound purpose of Jesus' sacrifice. He did not endure Calvary to make "nicer men and women with better morals," but to create "brand-new creations"—a community of prophets and professional lovers.

Consuming fire of the Spirit. True Christian life begins not with what we do for God, but with what God has already done for us in Christ Jesus. It involves surrendering to the "mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within," living in fidelity to God's Word, and entering "the very heart and mystery of Christ." This consuming flame purifies, sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love, defining what it truly means to be a Christian.

10. Experience God for Real: Beyond Theory

In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic (one who has experienced God for real) or nothing at all.

The gut issue. The core question isn't theological knowledge or memorized scripture, but whether one has "experienced the furious longing of God for real." Karl Rahner prophesied that in the future, one must be a mystic—someone who has personally encountered God—or risk having their theoretical Christianity collapse under pressure. This emphasizes a shift from intellectual understanding to profound, lived experience.

Radical amazement. These "moments of truth" are rare, unforgettable instances where faith, hope, and love are dramatically elevated by the Holy Spirit. They are plunges into "radical amazement," where self-consciousness disappears, and one is alone with the Ineffable Mystery. In these kairos moments, God's tender feelings are no longer dry knowledge but a certainty of His longing for intimacy, surpassing mere worship or study.

Overtaken by mystery. When life's storms hit, and nerves are shattered, "Infinity speaks." God Almighty shares the depth of His feelings, and His love flashes into the soul, leading to being "overtaken by mystery." This experience provides an appreciation and enthusiasm that scholarly investigations alone cannot, making the reality of God's furious longing intensely real and personally transformative, allowing one to truly "burn" with His love.