For most of my life I’ve been quite a “Professional Seeker and Discoverer of Issues and Trouble Areas.”
Seeing “what’s wrong” or “what could go wrong” has always been what I’ve seen and focused on, because it’s what I was looking for.
Sure, it’s good to be aware, and there is a time and place for paying attention to fixing things… but it’s easy to get trapped in that way of thinking, that perspective.
Being trapped in that way of thinking is miserable.
Do you see the picture on this post? What’s the first thing you see? Well, I was first drawn to the light when I went to take the photo, but then after I took this photo and started looking at it, I started seeing all the issues with this photo… the poor ugly tree on the right and that vine on the other tree that seems to be overtaking it….. but look at the light….. look at that beautiful light. I almost scrapped the photo, but I’m not going to let those ugly trees ruin this picture of beautiful light for me.
The other day there was a situation that had some obvious issues. It wasn’t too hard to see the negative, and I could easily form my own “conclusions” based on seeing the negative. But I found myself talking with the Lord about it…
*Insert Issue* “Where’s God in this? He’s in there somewhere…. God, where are You? I’m switching my focus and I’m looking for You in this situation…”
“I’m right here. I’m everywhere, I’m all in it… I’m covering it, I’m before it, I saw it coming, I know how it will all pan out, I’m surrounding it…”
“God, why is it so hard to see You in situations sometimes?”
“Because You have to be looking for Me (with a purified heart), then You will find Me, then you will be able to see Me. Then You will be able to have peace in the waiting.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8
“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13
“That they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,” – Acts 17:27
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” – Proverbs 8:17
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Deuteronomy 4:29
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” – Matthew 7:8“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” – Jeremiah 33:3
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” – Ephesians 5:8
God’s not trying to hide from us, He’s just right there, ready to be found, ready to be heard, ready to be seen. If we position ourselves to see Him, and if we allow Him to take us through the process of getting our hearts right, if we seek Him with all of our hearts, and if we diligently push past what is obvious and easy to see, we’ll always find Him there — just right there, already aware, already surrounding the full situation. Ready to be seen and found when we’re ready to seek and find Him with our whole hearts.
So I decided that I want to see God in the situation, more than I wanted to see any other part. Because I know He’ll take care of all the other stuff.
When I’m looking for Him, all the other things seem so much smaller, so much less important, because they truly are compared to Him. Because when I realize that He’s already there, He’s already aware, He’s already got the situation surrounded, all of the dangerous or threatening things pale in comparison to Him.
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” – 1 Chronicles 16:11
He’s there, He’s in it, He’s surrounding it, He’s surrounding all the issues, the imperfections, the problems — and He’s surrounding me. The word says that when I seek Him wholeheartedly, I’ll find Him. What have I got to fear?
“….but God…… where are You? I’m looking past all of these obvious things, and I’m looking for You in this situation. Let me see You, let me realize and experience the the truth that You are surrounding this situation –You saw it coming, You’re in it now, and You’re in what’s to come. You overpower every other part of the situation. You are the Most High God, and You are surrounding me, what have I to fear?”
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17
Thank You, Lord. ?☀️
-Heather ?