Female relationships have always played an important role in my life. I grew up very close to my mom, I’ve have had many female friends and now I’m happily and gratefully married to one.
I‘ve definitely had some great friendships with guys (and still do) but they’ve tended not to be with macho/alpha male types. I’m not exactly sure why but I think it’s mostly because I’m not a stereotypical male. I’m pretty emotional and can be quite sensitive. To be honest even though I’m growing much more comfortable with my own brand of masculinity, I still feel out of place in certain tough guy settings.
From a young age spirituality and faith in God have also been very important to me. As I’ve grown in my faith, my understanding of who God is has also grown and developed as well. In so many ways he has become more real and personal but in my mind he is also very male.
That is probably the primary image of God held by most in our culture and, based on how he is depicted in scripture, it is probably a pretty accurate portrayal. But recently I’ve realized that image of God has served as a barrier for me to a deeper relationship with him.
It is not to say that God’s masculine characteristics are not real, true or important, but because I don’t necessarily identify with the ultra-masculine, at times I’ve have had a hard time relating to him and believing that he completely understands me or that he could complete me as I’m told he should.
As I’ve reflected on this I’ve realized that because of my narrow image of God I’ve often looked to females in my life to fill some of the voids that only God can. Not only have those misplaced expectations created frustration for me, they have at times been hurtful to the people I’ve projected them on.
Thankfully, God has started to reveal a different side of his character to me. As side that is more tender, more nurturing, more compassionate, more sensitive and also more radiant, more mystical and more beautiful…………more feminine.
I’m at the very beginning of this journey but already I feel like a whole new world is being opened and I’m beginning to relate to God on much deeper and personal levels than ever before. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface but I’ve already learned so much. Here are just a couple examples.
There are countless references to God’s feminine nature in scripture. For example:
- Genesis 1:27 – “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
- Isaiah 66: 12 – 13, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.’”
- Wisdom is considered a very important aspect of God and often in scripture it is described in feminine terms.
- Proverbs 1:20, “Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.”
- Proverbs 4:6, “Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.”
- Proverbs 8:1, “Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!”
As I’ve started to pay attention I also see feminine characteristics of God in everyday life. I see them wherever there is beauty – in colorful and delicate flowers, in majestic mountains, in radiant sunsets, in the deep blue ocean, in art, in music and in all other parts of his creation.
In reality using terms like masculine or feminine are much too limiting as descriptors of God. As a spirit he is that but so much more, more than we’ll ever be able to comprehend. But I believe he wants to continually draw us to him, to greater intimacy and understanding of his nature. I’m so grateful that he is revealing new dimensions of himself to me. Seeing the feminine aspects is just the beginning and I’m excited to see where the journey takes me next!