Is God Real?

The simple answer to the question is 'Yes, God is real' but does this really satisfy the deeper question?

I think as we look at this question and ponder its siginficance in our own lives what we find is that what we are really asking is "Can I truly trust the fact that is real?" I think that most people would acknowledge that there is a god and that he is real. Where people begin to struggle is the more personal nature of that god. On the one hand people desire to have a god that is intimately involved in their lives (even if it is only for their benefit) yet when that happens they freak out and question anything  and everything that god is doing. I have seen this same pattern in both followers of Jesus and non-believers. Believers and non-believers tend to want the power and security of God but do not want the submission that is a natural result of being in the presence of God.

In the end when we ask whether or not God is real we are ultimately saying that I want God to be real and in control but I am not sure how to let that happen and I am afraid to let it happen. This fear can be powerful in both the believer and non-believer. It can easily keep us from experiencing the abundant joy that God has promised to those who will trust in Him. It will keep us from seeing the wonderful blessings that come from His abundance (John 1:16).

I hope that for each of us today that we will not allow our fears and insecurities to miss the incredible blessings that are all around us.

Doing

Many of you who read my ramblings are aware of the struggles that I have gone through at work. To those of you who don't know let me summarize by saying that it has been a tremendous back and forth battle. My last rotation was no different. It was difficult for me to be able to see the path and plan that I had to take. It was if I could literally not see, like my vision was literally being block. This began to change during my thrids night.

During my third night I could begin to see what I supposed to be doing and how to move people in to the right places to have a successful night. It wasn't 100% clear but my vision was returning. On my fourth night my vision was restored but what I saw made no sense to me. Normally, I find myself doing all kinds of feature moves and changes as well my normal follow-up. On this night it was clear to me that I wasn't to make any major feature moves (just one move in fact) rather I was suppossed to spend a significant amount of time getting one aisle worked so that one of my associates could finish it up. This made absolutely no sense to me yet I was at peace as I working. I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this was my role for the night. I did other things as the night went along but I was at peace with it all. It was by no means a perfect night but it was a night of peace, something that hasnt happened in a long time at work.

It was a night that reminded me that following God's will/steps/path is what brings us peace. It may not always bring us what we want but what we receive will be satisfying.

God Hears Us?

Sometimes I think one of the most difficult aspects of he Christian walk is truly believing and resting in the fact that God hears us when we call/pray. We know in our head that He does and we have probably even experienced obvious answers to our prayers. Yet, many times there is this voice inside of us that finds it hard to trust that He is going to answer us this time. Or maybe it is more that we are concerned that what we are asking for is not in His will and therefore we will be disappointed in "lack of deliverance."

I think for me I long to hear an actual voice of reassurance. Many times I long to have someone come alongside of me and give me that hug that says this is going to be ok and it will be taken care of. In essence, there are times I just wish that I could actually be literally walking with Jesus.

I am not sure where you are in trusting that God hears us when we call but I hope that it is not an issue for you like it is for me. If it is an issue here are some verses that may help both us as we work through this with God.

Jeremiah 33:3
 "‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ 

Psalm 55:16-17
" As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice."

1 John 5:13-15
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

He is everywhere

One of the key points of Psalm 139 is that there is no place where God is not. There is no place where we can go to get away from God, this side of Hell that is. This fact is intended to be both a comfort and a point of fear and conviction. We were are in need of comfort it is a reminder that we are not alone. We are in the midst of great battles and struggles it tells us that He stands before us, beside us and behind us. We we need strength it tell us that we can have it in a moments notice and that He will carry us through it all.

On the other hand the fact that God is always with us should also provide us with conviction for the things we do wrong. It should be a reason we choose to not do things. The idea that God will see us doing it is a good enough reason for us not to do it.

I hope that today you allow the reality of God always being there to sink in. I pray that you will allow that truth to either comfort you or convict you or both.