God views humanity's initial efforts towards goodness with immense delight and pleasure, much like a proud father watching their baby take its first steps. He is "easy to please" with even the smallest, most "feeble, stumbling effort" we make towards righteousness, valuing the intention and the act of trying. This positive view offers significant encouragement, assuring us that our present attempts and even failures should not discourage us, as God is always ready to pick us up again.

However, while God celebrates our beginnings, it's crucial to remember that He is "hard to satisfy" in the long run. His ultimate aim for us is absolute perfection, a "firm, free, manly walk" of a fully grown son. This grand goal can sometimes lead to resistance towards God's transformative process. We might desire only limited help for specific problems, feel we've reached a satisfactory level of goodness, misunderstand true humility by settling for less than God's plan, fear the painful and disruptive nature of deep change, or simply be content with our current state.

Therefore, one should view their current efforts towards goodness with a balanced perspective. Recognize that God genuinely appreciates and values every sincere attempt, no matter how imperfect it feels. These efforts are essential starting points on the journey. However, avoid the "fatal mistake" of complacency, believing you are already "good enough". Instead, let God's delight in your initial steps fuel your continued commitment to growth and transformation, keeping the ultimate goal of perfection in mind while trusting in His constant support and guidance.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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