Don't Miss God In All Things

 

God, in His kindness, always knows just what we need at just the time we need it.
Ahh yes, “kindness.”
It’s a word I’ve been using to describe Him more and more.
He is… so kind.

I would see it in print just yesterday.  A morning filled with study and preparation for an event later that day.  And in true Wendy-fashion I would wait to see what God would have me to speak specifically about.  After learning the hard way, I now concede to His divine leading.  He knows what’s best for “such a time as this.”

And I would read all about it.
There in the text it was clear.
John 8:12-30.
Hard lessons for the Pharisees to learn.
Hard lessons now even for me.  And the Pharisee I see within from time to time.

Jesus lays out the challenge: "I am the light of the world.  Follow Me.”  (vs 12)
And He gives them what’s to be the results of obedience… “You won’t have to walk in darkness”, which translated from Aramaic means, you will, “never be driven by darkness.”  Ahh.. because it’s one thing to walk in darkness, and a whole ‘nother thing to be driven by it.  

And they were.
Like us at times.
Driven by the darkness.

It has been said that there’s a certain species of fish who live in the northern region of the United States who live in dark caverns.  For generations these fish have adopted to their dark environment so well that generations later their offspring are actually born without eyes.  Empty sockets where no eyeball ever formed is what remains now for the fish who’s ancestors sense of sight was never utilized.

A sad reality for this generation of fish who must learn to live without vision.
The neglected perception of sight now influences as entire population of underground life.

The sin of the Pharisees was that they couldn’t see.
Four times they fire back at Jesus with what they hope to be justification for their misaligned faculty.
“You are making those claims about yourself, such testimony is invalid.”  (vs 13)
“Where is Your Father?”  (vs 19)
“What does He mean, is He going to commit suicide?”  (vs 22)
“Who are you?”  (vs 25)

And each time Jesus warns that the result of their sin.. their unbelief… their failure to “see”… would be His departure from them and the promise that they, “could not go” where He was going.  (vs 21)

And then I read it in the Message version.
And something in my heart breaks.
“Then He went over the same ground again.  ‘I’m leaving and you are going to look for Me, but you’re missing God in this and are headed for a dead end.’”  (vs 21)

I would read it just moments before a friend would write me to share her aching heart and a situation she’s facing that feels too overwhelming and far too difficult to bear any longer.
And I would pray for her.
And in my spirit I would hear it loudly.
And would repeat the words to her… that which came from Him directly… “You don’t need to reconcile what’s going on…. you just need to see God in all things.”

Ahh yes.
Lest we be like the Pharisees after all.

And maybe that’s the problem… the hard truth we don’t want to admit.
Our sin isn’t that we don’t understand what’s happening… the sin is that we aren’t choosing to see Him in all things.

In a pandemic year - God is still here.
He’s never left.
In a year filled with hate and riots and outrage - God is still here.
In an election year that’s seemingly ripping our country in half - God is still here.

And we don’t need to reconcile what’s happening.
We don’t need more information to cloud truth.
We don’t need more opinions to contend with.
We don’t need more arguments to prove we’re right.
We need Jesus.
And we need to be able to SEE Him in ALL things.

All things.
Every day.

Jesus says it, “You are from below, I am from above.  You belong to this world; I do not.”  (vs 23)

And in the hope reminder He finally leaves with them in verse 29, “And the One who sent Me is with Me - He has not deserted Me”, many heard Him, and believed Him for the very first time.

Because hope cultivates hope.
And who couldn’t use a little more of that?

God help us.
Help our focus remain steadfastly upon You.
Restore our vision, God.

Oh how much it matters!!!