What is Your God Like?

In my work as a counselor, I often sit across from clients who are seeking to deepen their spiritual journey. They come with questions, doubts, and a longing for something more—something real. One of the first questions I ask them is, *“What is your God like?”*

The response is almost always the same: a quizzical look, a pause, and sometimes a nervous laugh. It’s as if they think it’s a trick question. Some begin to explain their religious upbringing—church on Sundays, prayers before meals, or maybe the absence of any formal religion at all. Others share their skepticism or their frustration with organized religion. But I stop them gently and say, *“I’m not asking what you’ve been told to believe about God. I’m asking about your experience of God. What is your God like?”*

This question often catches them off guard. It’s not one we’re used to being asked. We’re so accustomed to being told what to believe, what rules to follow, and what boxes to check that we rarely pause to consider what our own relationship with the Divine feels like.

So, I’ll ask you the same question: *What is your God like?*

Is your God angry? Jealous? Petty? Or is your God loving, near, and supportive? Is your God distant and silent, or does your God feel like a warm embrace? Is your God a rule-maker, a judge, or a mystery that defies definition?

For many of us, our understanding of God has been shaped by what we were taught—by well-meaning parents, Sunday school teachers, or religious leaders. We’ve been handed a set of beliefs, a list of rules, and a framework for understanding the Divine. But here’s the thing: being told what to believe about God is very different from experiencing God for yourself.

Think of it this way: reading a short biography about someone is not the same as meeting them in person. You can learn facts about their life, their accomplishments, and their personality, but until you sit across from them, look into their eyes, and feel their presence, you don’t truly *know* them. The same is true of God.

The Blanket Over the Mystery

In a recent stand-up routine, comedian Pete Holmes shared a profound insight he learned from Barry Taylor, the road manager for AC/DC. Taylor said, *“God is the name for the blanket we put over the mystery to give it a shape.”*

I love this metaphor because it acknowledges the vastness and unknowability of the Divine while also recognizing our human need to make sense of it. We use words, images, and stories to give shape to something that is, at its core, beyond our comprehension. But here’s the catch: the blanket is not the mystery itself. It’s just a tool to help us connect with it.

Too often, we confuse the blanket with the mystery. We cling to doctrines, dogmas, and definitions, forgetting that they are merely attempts to describe something indescribable. We argue over who has the “right” blanket, as if one size could ever fit all. But the truth is, your blanket doesn’t have to look like mine. Your experience of God doesn’t have to match anyone else’s.

From Belief to Experience

Spirituality can feel like just another item on the to-do list. We approach it the same way we approach everything else in our lives: with determination, discipline, and a desire to get it “right.” We read the books, attend the services, and follow the rules, hoping that if we do enough, we’ll finally feel connected to something greater than ourselves.

But here’s the truth: spirituality is not about perfection. It’s not about checking boxes or following rules. It’s about relationship. It’s about intimacy. It’s about showing up, exactly as you are, and allowing yourself to be seen, known, and loved by the Great Goodness.

This shift from belief to experience can feel uncomfortable at first. It requires us to let go of our need for control and certainty. It asks us to step into the unknown, to sit with the mystery, and to trust that we will be held. But it is in this space of vulnerability and openness that true connection happens.

What Does Your God Feel Like?

Take a moment to close your eyes and ask yourself: *What does my God feel like?*

Does your God feel like the warmth of the sun on your face as spring approaches after a long, cold winter? Does your God feel like the stillness of a quiet morning, before the world wakes up? Does your God feel like the fierce love of a mother, the steady presence of a friend, or the creative energy that flows through you when you’re doing what you love?

Your experience of God is unique to you. It is shaped by your life experiences, your personality, and your deepest longings. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It doesn’t have to fit into a box or follow a set of rules. It just has to be real.

Letting Go of the “Shoulds”

One of the biggest barriers to experiencing God is the weight of the “shoulds.” We carry so many expectations about what we’re supposed to believe, how we’re supposed to pray, and what our spiritual life is supposed to look like. But what if you let all of that go? What if you gave yourself permission to explore your relationship with the Divine on your own terms?

What if your understanding of God has expanded beyond what you first learned in childhood? What if God is not only found in tradition and teachings but also in the quiet moments of your day? What if the Divine is not just about structure and guidance but also about boundless grace and unconditional love? What if God is not only known through doctrine but also through the mystery and wonder that unfold in your own experience?”

Creating Space for the Divine

We often struggle to slow down and create space for the Divine in our lives. We’re so busy doing, achieving, and striving that we forget to simply *be.* But spirituality thrives in the spaces between. It’s in the pauses, the stillness, and the moments of quiet reflection that we are most likely to encounter the Divine.

So, how can you create space for the Divine in your life? Maybe it’s setting aside five minutes each morning to sit in silence. Maybe it’s taking a moment to be grateful before a meal. Maybe it is lighting a candle and taking a moment to be in Presence. Whatever it is, make it your own.

The Invitation

So, I’ll ask you again: *What is your God like?*

This is not a trick question. There is no right or wrong answer. It’s an invitation—an invitation to explore, to wonder, and to connect. It’s an invitation to move beyond what you might have been told to believe and to discover what you truly experience.

Your God doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Your God doesn’t have to fit into a box or follow a set of rules. Your God just has to be real to you.

So, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and ask yourself: *What is my God like?*

And then, listen.