We all have moments when we really want to see God
Picture this – dark clouds hovering all around you, so thick that you can barely see where you are going. You try to put a hand out to grasp onto something to give you support, and there is nothing. You close your eyes, hoping that when you open them, the cloud will be gone, but it is still there, thicker than ever. The worst part is, seeing God in the dark cloud is almost impossible.
When you need God so desperately, and you cannot see him, where do you look? Let’s peek into the Bible and see where he can be found! Keep reading…
First, remember what God told Moses when he asked to see the Lord’s face…
Exodus 33:20 ‘“But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”’ (NIV)
The Lord is too pure, powerful, holy and righteous for us to actually see his face! We can, however, ‘see’ him in other ways. I’ll just list a couple below.
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In His Creation
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” (NLT)
About a year ago, I was going through a cloudy phase in my life, and to make matters worse, it was the cold season with barely any sunshine. One day, when I was almost losing hope in God, the sun
appeared from behind a cloud. I watched the cloud try its best to cover the sun, but the sun’s rays shone strongly from behind it. As I stared at the rays of sunshine illuminating the sky, I saw God. I saw how he was reminding me that even in the dark season, his light continued to shine. Even though I was in a dark place, God was right behind that cloud, sending rays of love to keep me going.
Look around you right now. Perhaps there is a quiet stream, a soft gust of wind, a blooming flower, or a bird flying in the air – something to remind you of God’s presence. If we look hard enough at the wonder and beauty of the creation around us, we will see God.
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In His Word
The Bible is full of words of love from God to each of us, words that express how much he loves us as individuals. Through these words, we get to see him as demonstrated by his loving nature.
Jeremiah 31:3 ‘Long ago the Lord said to Israel:“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”’(NLT)
Can you imagine seeing God through his everlasting love, a love that will never diminish or fade away? Awesome!
Psalm 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (NIV)
How does God show us the way to go, yet we can’t see him? Ever thought about that? How can we tell that he is right there showing us the way to go? Simple – he sends his presence to go with us, and surrounds us with his love!
One more set of verses – some of my favorites…
Psalm 139:7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (NIV)
It doesn’t matter where we go, God is there – in the heavens, in the depths, at dawn, in the evening, and further than the eye can see! His presence goes with us, comforting and guiding us day in, day out!
In conclusion, let me just say this – though I may never get to see God’s face, I will definitely get to see him in many other ways. I know that his presence is with me all the time, even when I don’t feel like he is nearby.
Friends, do you feel like you need to see God urgently? Look for him in his word, and in his creation, and you will his words of love fill your heart with hope. Seeing God is not about seeing a shiny figure in front of you as you pray; seeing God is about recognizing that his presence is with, around, and within you all the time!
Hi, everyone! As always, I would love to hear from you. Let me know what stood out for you in this article, and what comments you may have. If you loved the article, please like it, share it with your friends and subscribe! See you next week! Alison