God’s DiSC Profile: Understanding His Character Through a New Lens
Understanding God’s Character Through a DiSC Profile -- Episode 12 - Psalm 103:8 "From Dust to Eternity".
What Is God Like?
If you’ve ever taken a personality assessment, like the DiSC profile, you know how helpful it can be in understanding people’s tendencies, strengths, and behaviors. But have you ever thought about how these frameworks could help us know God?
(We are reading Psalm 103 in a series of posts. To view the entire series and receive notifications of future weekly posts, subscribe using the button below.)
As I was writing this post for Psalm 103:8, where King David is describing the main character traits of God, I happened to visit a good friend of mine. Chris is the CEO of a growing company. I noticed he had a graphic representation of his DiSC profile outside his office door. The entire management team had taken the profile, and every leader had a personalized sign outside their office door. Chris’s DiSC map shows his “style,” his underlying tendencies, and his approach to life. It is how he gets along with others, and it is no surprise that he leads a very successful company.
The DiSC model categorizes personalities into four types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Each reflects certain traits that shape how we interact with the world.
Interestingly, the four attributes of God described in Psalm 103:8 align beautifully with these categories, providing a helpful way to answer the timeless question: What is God like?
David writes:
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 103:8
Let’s explore how these attributes reveal God’s character through the lens of DiSC.
Dominance: God Is Merciful
In the DiSC model, dominance reflects a focus on results, responsibility, and action. At first glance, this might not seem to align with mercy, but think about it: mercy is God taking decisive action on our behalf.
God’s mercy flows from His power and authority—His ability to act on our situation. Like a strong leader who protects and provides, God’s mercy is His active response to our needs. He sees our brokenness and intervenes with tenderness and care, much like a parent safeguarding a child.
When we feel unworthy, God’s mercy reminds us that He uses His power not to crush but to rescue.
Influence: God Is Gracious
The influence personality type in DiSC is all about warmth, connection, and encouragement—qualities that perfectly align with God’s grace.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor, freely given to us out of His abundant generosity. It reflects His relational nature, drawing us to Him not out of obligation but through love. Like an influential leader who inspires and uplifts, God’s grace encourages us, meets our needs, and empowers us to live fully in His presence.
When we need help, God’s grace assures us that He is for us, not against us.
Steadiness: God Is Slow to Anger
In DiSC, steadiness emphasizes patience, consistency, and calm. This is the perfect lens to understand God’s slowness to anger.
David uses an interesting Hebrew idiom to describe God’s patience. He says God is long of nostrils which paints a vivid picture of God’s patience—His deliberate choice to pause, breathe, and withhold judgment. Like a steady leader who remains composed under pressure, God’s restraint ensures that His actions are measured and His responses are rooted in wisdom.
When we fail repeatedly, God’s patience reminds us that He is not quick to condemn but longs to guide us toward restoration.
Conscientiousness: God Abounds in Steadfast Love
The conscientiousness trait in DiSC focuses on loyalty, reliability, and a commitment to doing what is right. These qualities are beautifully embodied in God’s hesed—His steadfast love.
Hesed is a covenantal love, a loyal and unshakable commitment to His people. It’s the kind of love that never fails, even when we fall short. Like a conscientious leader who values integrity and follows through on promises, God’s steadfast love is a source of security and trust.
When we feel unloved, God’s hesed reminds us that His love is constant, enduring, and faithful
A Balanced Portrait of God
Just as a healthy leader balances the strengths of all four DiSC traits, Psalm 103:8 reveals a God who embodies the best of each category:
Merciful (Dominance): Acting powerfully and decisively to meet our needs.
Gracious (Influence): Connecting with us through love and generosity.
Slow to Anger (Steadiness): Patient and measured, never rushing to judgment.
Abounding in Steadfast Love (Conscientiousness): Loyal, faithful, and unwavering in His commitment.
This balanced portrait of God’s character challenges any misconceptions we might have of Him as harsh or distant. Instead, we see a God who is personal, relational, and deeply invested in His creation.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Just as the DiSC profile helps us understand and improve our relationships, this understanding of God’s character invites us to reflect His attributes in our own lives.
Be Merciful: Use your influence and power to uplift others.
Be Gracious: Cultivate relationships through generosity and kindness.
Be Slow to Anger: Practice patience and self-restraint.
Abound in Steadfast Love: Be loyal and faithful in your commitments.
Imagine a world where mercy replaced judgment, grace overcame indifference, patience tempered anger, and steadfast love bound us together.
A God Worth Knowing
So, what is God like? He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
This isn’t just a list of qualities—it’s an invitation to trust Him and emulate His character. Let this portrait of God inspire you to live out His love in a world that so desperately needs it.
The Rev. David Roseberry, an ordained Anglican priest with over 40 years of pastoral experience, offers leadership services to pastors, churches, and Christian writers. He is an author whose books are available on Amazon. Rev. Roseberry is the Executive Director of LeaderWorks, where his work and resources can be found.