Tag Archives: Spiritual journey

Why Can’t We See God

I had a conversation with my mom this afternoon and she kept asking me in the midst of trial where God is? We believe God is with us, we believe God is guiding and protecting us, but where is God shining down revealing himself to us giving us that hope?

Thank you to thebooktart.com for the picture

Thank you to thebooktart.com for the picture

As I was listening to her it became very clear to me that God has been continually revealing himself to us through our circumstances. It can often be in the little things that God is showing a mighty work. The reality is that our trials wouldn’t seem so catastrophic if we didn’t believe in Christ. Evil wouldn’t be so prevalent if we weren’t fighting for good to overcome and win. Christ meets us in the pit of sin and is reaching down with an outstretched hand asking for us to grab on. We often look for God’s revealing in miracles and drastic change in lifestyle rather than the physical outreach trying to simply help us stand back up on our own two feet. When we live in sin we are still responsible and accountable to our choices, God wont simply take them away because we must deal with them and learn from them but in all reality those mighty changes in life is God’s revealing of himself even through our freewill to choose life or death.

So beloved, you are chosen, adopted, accepted and loved! God is revealing himself to you in the midst of the trial. Look for him in practical ways rather then in miracle form. I’m not suggesting that Christ wont perform miracles over your life as he does often but when life sinks deep, remember Christ is there revealing His precious self to you through ways that wouldn’t keep you believing still.

The simple question, “Where is God, why can’t I see him?” Seems to me to be the essence of Christ trying to get you to take your eyes off yourself and the longing for tragedy to dissipate, but to stay Christ focused so that you can see his hand in the daily routine of what we call life. We need to go deeper still in our faith, trials bring perseverance and Christ says we need to consider them pure joy. The definition of pure is: not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material, free from contamination, containing nothing else. The definition of joy is: Great pleasure and happiness. The two combined seem to be a happiness filled without anything else, free of any other material or substance distracting the essence of our joy. Consider it pure joy my friends, when you are faced with trials of many kind (James 1:2-4).

Reveal means to make known; previously unknown or kept secret. Christ isn’t a secret to us, he is constantly showing himself through divine or supernatural means. When we ask Christ to reveal himself, I think we ought to ask for us to see the supernatural realm taking place at that present moment. If we feel Christ is hiding Himself from us our perspective needs to get back in tact. Whose hiding, Christ or us? Christ has revealed himself. Let’s not hide in the midst of pain and tragedy and question God’s presense. Instead lets open our eyes and grab on to Christ as He walks with us through our day.  Our prayer should be: “let me see You as You are continually revealing Yourself to me. Let my doubt, fear and trepidation not hinder my sight from your glory as You embark this journey hand in hand with me. You have and will continue to reveal Yourself to me, help me from hiding from you glory and keep my eyes pure, uncontaminated by anything other than Yourself so that I may proceed with faith and not let evil conquer me.”

My friends, the reality is we all go through dark times in our life where we can’t find which way is up. Unfortunately we need close brothers and sister in Christ to stand by our side pointing us in the direction of the finish line. I’ve wondered myself many times why God hasn’t preformed that miracle on our family, when I need to remember we all have our own choices and no matter which road we choose God will be faithful to us as we continually choose Him. This doesn’t mean our ‘miracle’ is that the tragedy or hardships get taken away, it simply means resting under His wing for refuge while we continue to endure the path that’s narrow and difficult rather than the worn, wide path.

We think that Christ revealing himself to us is some unknown experience that rarely happens. My friends, Christ is daily revealing himself to you, are you receiving this great gift you have been given? You may question God as at times He can be silent, but when you seek him for guidance He will not fail you and is waiting to unveil the many layers covering your eyes. We tend to let our insecurities, doubts and fears become the essence of how we think God is working. This is all wrong my friends and I’m guilty of this as well. We need to remind ourselves what God’s promises are so that when standing in the midst of the fire you are pure before the Lord, knowing you can and will endure the fire and come out even more refined on the other side.

Moment of Truth: Reveal yourself to Christ, don’t keep yourself a secret from Him as he is reaching down into the pit with His hand outstretched longing to wash away your pride and selfishness and renew your eyes with peace and glory. There is a hope!

Waiting on the Lord

What does it mean to wait on the Lord? The first resolution should be to be obedient to Christ no matter the cost. This is the decision of being driven by fear or faith. The outcome will take place whether we choose our own direction or let Christ lead. The outcome will be the same, it’s the path in which changes; we can make the path longer and more painful or trust in faith that God will come through.

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Gods design isn’t to make us happy but to make us holy. When we are made holy is the moment in which sincere happiness can occur. When we trust on the Lord, we will wait on him in anticipation to fulfill His promises.

We need to be thankful for what God has done and what we have. When doing so our attitude will become that of a thankful heart rather than a vindictive bitter heart. Are we seeking revenge on others or a thankful peaceful heart desiring self growth?

I’ve noticed how quickly it is that one bad thought can lead down a spiraling path of anger, revenge and much more. Allowing these thoughts to even enter in, requires self-focus with a prideful attitude believing we are deserving of something better than whom we seek revenge. I’ve noticed in the work force while talking with a few people who feel betrayed in their positions, how quickly these negative thoughts seek vengeance and bad “Karma” to those who are incredibly difficult to work with. For some reason there is an entitlement within ourselves that these people are below us and we are so much more ‘put-together.’ This attitude comes within our self from a prideful insecure mentality that we ‘deserve’ better. Stop! Think for a second! These people are in the same shoes as us; trying to make it through their day, struggling with lifes circumstances on so many levels. Everyone ultimately wants respect and appreciation. If we treated those around us who we don’t believe ‘deserves’ respect, how would that change their day? How would that change their perspective of you? How can you help change their outlook for that particular day, all by being nice and respectful to those who don’t deserve it.

Yet who are we to judge who deserves what? Our pride seeks happiness, yet again, God didn’t create us to be happy, but to become holy. Our goal should be to understand we are all wandering through life looking for something greater.

Take time today to treat those you encounter with high respect, love and appreciation. Whether that comes in the form of a smile to a stranger you pass, opening the door for a customer walking into Starbucks; paying for their drink as a nice gesture. Or in the work environment, remind yourself of the top three people who make the hair on your neck stand up and ask them how their day is, put a smile on your face and treat them with utter respect even if they toss disrespectful comments your way. Your integrity will shine for who you are when you don’t ‘fight’ back. Your actions do speak louder than words.

Ultimately, does it really matter? We never feel better about ourselves after the revenge takes place. Ultimately we just stooped to the same level as them, lowering our integrity and respect to those who are watching. It is never worth it. A silent heart speaks truth while our mouths seek ourselves. Wait on the Lord, ask Him what he wants from us. Ask Him for a heart like His, and ask for patience and love. RENEW YOUR MIND ALL DAY LONG.

Choose Faith not Fear and watch your life be transformed.
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The question we need to ask every day is: Am I driven by faith or fear?