God Doesn’t Just Love You—He Likes You Too

As a priest I spend a lot of time telling people that - Jesus loves you. I find myself drawn to this one simple truth: Yet sometimes, even though I say this over and over, I wonder if it’s really sinking in - even for me.

I think we all know—at least in our heads—that God loves us. But how often do we realize that He not only loves us, but He likes us? And there’s a difference.

I was listening to a speaker, and she paused after saying, “God loves you.” Then she said, “He also likes you.” I was driving, and I thought to myself - What? He likes me?

It’s like Thanksgiving dinner. Picture it—you love your family. You’d give them anything if they needed it. But be honest: there are some people at that table you can’t stand. You love them, yes, but you don’t necessarily like them.

That’s how I used to think about God’s love. Of course He loves me—He has to. He’s God, right? But does He like me? Does He enjoy spending time with me?

In the Song of Songs, there’s this beautiful love story between a king and a woman, and the way the king pursues her mirrors how God pursues us. He doesn’t just have to love us—He wants to. He delights in us. He calls out to us, not out of obligation, but out of a deep love that says, “I enjoy being with you.”

And here’s the thing: we struggle to believe that. We know the sacraments, the teachings, the commandments—but in our hearts, we wonder, “Does He really love me? Does He like me?” Friends, that’s what Jesus is trying to break through in our hearts. God doesn’t just tolerate you; He’s not just putting up with you because He has to. He delights in you. He loves you, and He likes you.

So next time you look at the cross, remember this: God doesn’t just love you from a distance. He loves you, He delights in you, and He really, really likes you. Let that sink into your heart.