This past week, Jonathan Steingard, lead singer of the Christian rock group, Hawk Nelson, came out publicly with the revelation that he no longer believes in God. Many across the world were shocked and saddened by this announcement. Jonathan explained that this change in his heart did not happen overnight and was hard and terrifying to admit.

My first reaction was shock and anger. But as I read the comments of support from other Christian artists, like Jeremy Camp and Tenth Avenue North, I realized something different. I shouldn’t be angry. Jonathan is being honest and open about doubts that he is having; doubts than many, if not all of us have had from time to time. And God, no matter if Jonathan believes or not, still loves him!

One of the group’s songs is called “Drops in the ocean”—

I want you as you are not as you ought to be
Won’t you lay down your guard and come to me
The shame that grips you now is crippling
It breaks my heart to see you suffering
‘Cause I am for you
I’m not against you

If you wanna know how far my love can go
Just how deep
Just how wide
If you wanna see how much you mean to me
Look at my hands
Look at my side
If you could count the times I’d say you are forgiven
It’s more than the drops in the ocean…

The words of this song show us what’s at the heart of Christ’s love for us. He loves us now, where we are. He loves us even though we have doubts, problems, questions. His power and glory are not diminished by our doubts. If anything, Jonathan’s questions have opened up the conversation. Who is God and does he really exist? How much does he really love us?

Imagine, how many water drops are contained in an ocean? In Matthew, chapter 18, Peter asks Jesus, how many times he should forgive someone? “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Jesus didn’t mean that we should keep a count and at number 78, we wipe our hands and close our hearts to forgiveness. Jesus was giving us a lesson that forgiveness is unlimited. Just as unlimited as the drops in the ocean, God’s forgiveness is unlimited. It doesn’t matter if we have questions, it doesn’t even matter if we think we don’t believe anymore. God’s love will never leave us nor forsake us. And he will be waiting, with the same open arms that were held out on the cross, for us to open our hearts to him.

So, as the band, Hawk Nelson is dealing with the fallout, they released a statement that said in part, “Our mission as Hawk Nelson has always been to inspire and encourage all people with the truth that God is FOR them and not against them. In that message’s most simple and purest form, that THEY matter,” they wrote. “So now we turn that truth toward one of our own. That God is still FOR Jon & he still matters. Why? Because that truth doesn’t change just because we question it.”  So, my friends, think about how you would count the drops in the ocean. It would be equally as difficult to grasp how much God really loves you and how much he believes in you. He is for you!