If you were asked to describe God’s character, what would you say?

Exodus 3:13-14 tells us that when Moses asked for God’s name, God answered, “I AM WHO I AM.” In this verse, God uses the word YHWH. This is God saying “I am self-existent (not created), I am eternal, and I am unchanging.” God defines His own character and He defines reality itself.

Even though God clearly says He defines reality, is unchanging, and is perfect in His ways, mankind has always wrestled with the temptation to mischaracterize God- to misinterpret His nature and His will. Why is that?

We must consider the enemy, Satan, who  works in cunning ways. He is strategic, evil, and knows how to tempt mankind. If Satan can distort our view of who God is, then our faith will be distorted, too. A warped picture of God will lead to so many flawed perspectives on extremely important topics, such as:

• Our understanding of Christian obedience
• How we react to sin / how we pursue holiness
• Our reverence/fear of the Lord balanced with the love and comfort we find in Him
• How (and how often) we worship Him
• How we respond to correction/accountability
• What we expect from God in times of need and distress
• How we interpret Scripture and cultural topics

Let’s look at the most prominent misconception seen today and dive into its inaccuracies. 

Misconception: God can be shaped into a “personal mold” of who we want Him to be.
Truth: God is unchanging and hates false versions of Himself.

Romans 1:22–23 says “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images.” In this verse, Paul is describing the tendency of man to replace the real God with a version they created. Far too often in the Bible, people chose to worship idols in the form of statues that they cut/whittled/forged with their own hands, completely content with giving man-made objects their worship and sacrifices. These “gods” were immoral, everchanging, and angry… just like the man that created it. They were built to satisfy man’s longing for a divine purpose, but fell short every single time, leading only to war, disappointment, and abandonment. 

In Exodus 32, the Israelites built a golden calf when they became impatient with God. They tried to forge God into something they could control and something that would benefit them in that moment. Their intent was not to altogether denounce God, but they ended up attaching God’s name to something that did not reflect His nature. They fell for the same trap their ancestors wrestled with… again. 

In today’s world, we’re not far off from the same tendency. In our culture, instead of man-made statues, we add and subtract characteristics of God until He is completely unrecognizable. We ignore the parts we don’t understand, we cut out difficult biblical practices, and we characterize God in ways He never told us to. Acts 17:29 says God is not “an image formed by the art and imagination of man.”

Have you ever heard “God just wants me to be happy!” from a friend who is living a sinful lifestyle? They believe God wants them to do whatever satisfies and excites- like a laid-back, tolerant, semi-uninterested dad who isn’t paying attention to his kids.

Scripture shows God as loving (Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”). In addition to loving, though, God is fair (Nahum 1:3 “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not leave the guilty unpunished”). This means that while God is love, He is also a just judge who must punish evil. God is far more concerned with our holiness than our comfort because He wants us to be in heaven with Him on Judgement Day, not momentarily satiated by worldly vices for the eighty or so years we walk the earth. 

Scripture also says that God is jealous. Not in the same way you and I experience jealousy, but because He alone is worthy of our worship. His jealousy means He refuses to share with anyone, including false versions of Himself. When we reduce God to a “spiritual advisor,” opposed to the Divine, All-Powerful, Universe-Creating, Eternal Being that He is… We’re not just getting it wrong, we’re pursuing a lifestyle that doesn’t accurately reflect what God wants for us.

When we erase any of these attributes (love, justness or jealousy), we’re no longer dealing with YHWH, rather a creation of our own preferences; a false god.

So what’s the solution?

Start by reading the Bible with the intent to understand the true character of God. According to a 2025 Barna Group report, only about 50% of self-identified Christians say they read the Bible once a week… Couldn’t that be a huge part of the problem? We have heard it a million times, but that’s because it’s true: To be a strong Christian, you need to study Scripture, seek understanding, and pray so you can develop a real, personal relationship with Him. 

Think about it like this: Imagine I told you I’m a devoted wife, but… I never speak to my husband, I ignore him when he talks, I ignore all of his text messages, and someone else gives me a weekly update of how he’s doing. You’d think I’d lost my mind! So why is it any less silly for someone to call themselves a Christian while never praying, never opening the Word, and relying on a Sunday preacher to build their relationship with God?

Here’s a thought on where to start:

The New Testament is genuinely easy to read and has tons of inspiring chapters. I especially love Matthew, Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews, and James. These writers talk a lot about God’s plan, Christian obedience, and what it looks like to be a convicted follower of Christ. Underline verses that are inspiring or beautiful, tell other Christians about it, post it on Instagram. Do whatever you need to do to keep reading.

And don’t just read, ask questions and pray for deeper understanding. Let Scripture be challenging to your life and mindset instead of trying to bend it to fit a personal mold. Maturity comes from consistent exposure and pressure, not occasional interest.

The more we read, the more we will understand how YHWH is greater, wiser, and far more worthy of worship than any false version of Him you could have created in our minds. I promise you that when the real YHWH is seen, obedience stops being difficult, and starts to become a natural response to appreciating how lucky we are to have the chance to get to know the Creator of the universe.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 says “Let not the wise boast in their wisdom, nor the mighty boast in their might, nor the rich boast in their riches, but let the one who boasts boast in this: that they understand and know Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight,” declares the LORD.

About the author: Madi Garst is a 24-year-old Christian living in Newcastle, Oklahoma. She earned her master’s degree from Oklahoma Christian University in 2024 and soon after married her amazing husband, Kale, a graduate of Bear Valley Bible Institute. Together, they attend Southwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City and share a deep love for the Lord. In her spare time, Madi enjoys taking care of her houseplants, crafting, listening to worship music, spending time with family, and going on coffee dates with friends.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Re'Elle Crowell

Re'Elle Crowell is a dedicated Christian who does her best to grow closer to God and help others do the same. She is an accountant, working remote for Liberty Mutual Insurance. In her free time she enjoys cooking, playing games, and reading. In addition to her work with Come Fill Your Cup as an editor, writer, and speaker, she has contributed to the second My Study Era women's devotional book, Excel Still More, and served as a counselor and instructor for Future Teacher Training Camp (FTTC).

Latest posts by Re'Elle Crowell (see all)

• Prayer Series Lesson 12: Praying Like the Early Church - May 28, 2025
• Prayer Series Lesson 8: Praying Like Jehoshaphat - April 23, 2025
• Prayer Series Lesson 4: Praying Like Nehemiah - March 25, 2025