Late-Night Lightbulbs: Discovering Who God Really Is

One of the most amazing things about reading Scripture for the first time (or even for the 100th time) is that I am always learning more about who God is.

I currently work nightshift, which gives me a lot more “downtime” to work on devotionals and studies. I am always turning to my co-worker in awe over a passage I just read because it just clicks, you know? And I get so excited! There is no better feeling that reading scripture for the first time and actually understanding what God is telling me. It’s like the words are jumping off the page into my heart. It’s intimate, personal, and sometimes even overwhelming in the best way.

But what has surprised me the most lately — what I find myself returning to over and over again — isn’t just what God has done or what He has promised.

It’s who He Is.

I used to think of God as far off—holy, yes, but also maybe a little distant. Powerful, but maybe a bit disappointed in me. I had this image in my mind of a God who loved me in theory but was mostly frustrated by my mess, my inconsistency, my questions, my doubt.

But then I read Exodus 34:6. This is the first time in Scripture that God describes Himself—not someone else telling us what He’s like, but God revealing His character in His own words.

“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

This isn’t just a sentence—it’s a declaration. A definition. A cornerstone.

Yes, I have read through Exodus in it’s entirety multiple times at this point. And of course, many daily devotionals reference highlights from this book all the time. Today, though — it just clicked different!

He Is Merciful

Mercy means He doesn’t give me what I deserve. And wow, how often I forget that. On days when I’m impatient, distracted, or overwhelmed—He doesn’t respond with shame. He responds with mercy.

When I’m running on empty or feel unworthy to open my Bible, He gently reminds me: “I’m still here. I’m not mad. Come sit with Me.”

He Is Gracious

Grace isn’t just a soft word—it’s a powerful reality. It means He gives me what I don’t deserve: His love, His presence, His help, His favor. It’s not something I can earn. It’s just who He is.

That truth alone stops me in my tracks. How could I ever deserve the love of a God who sees all of me and still draws near?

But the beauty is, I don’t have to deserve it. I just have to receive it.

He Is Slow to Anger

This part made me tear up the first time I really sat with it. How many of us have grown up thinking God has a short fuse? That He’s ready to punish or withdraw the moment we mess up?

But Scripture says He is slow to anger. Not quick. Not reactive. He’s patient. Long-suffering. He sees our hearts behind the struggle. And He doesn’t walk away when we fall.

That means I don’t have to tiptoe around Him. I can come boldly, honestly, fully—because His heart is steady.

He Is Abounding in Love and Faithfulness

The word “abounding” means overflowing, more than enough, endless. His love isn’t rationed. His faithfulness doesn’t run out when mine does.

He doesn’t love me a little. He loves me fully, faithfully, fiercely. Even on my worst days.

And that changes everything.

Learning Who God Is Changes How I Live

The more I learn about God’s character, the more peace I feel. Not because my circumstances magically change, but because I know who is walking with me through them.

When I understand that God is merciful, I stop trying to earn His approval.
When I understand that God is gracious, I rest in His love instead of striving.
When I understand that God is slow to anger, I run to Him when I fall instead of hiding.
When I understand that God is abounding in love, I trust Him even when life feels shaky.

This is why Scripture is so alive to me right now. Not because I’m checking off boxes or gaining knowledge, but because I’m meeting God in these pages. And He is better, kinder, and more faithful than I ever imagined.

Let This Be Your Starting Place

If you’re in a season where God feels distant… if you’re wrestling with shame or uncertainty or trying to understand who He really is—start here.

Exodus 34:6. Read it slowly. Read it often. Let it sink in.

God isn’t waiting for you to get it all together before you approach Him. He’s already revealed who He is. And every time you open your Bible, He’s inviting you to know Him more.

Not just as a holy Judge.
Not just as a Creator.
But as a merciful Father, a gracious Friend, a patient Savior, and a faithful Companion.

He is who He says He is.
And the more you discover that, the more everything else begins to change.