When God Meets Us Where We Are

There are times I don't hear God's voice. Not "I can't," but "I don't." I don't hear Him because I'm not making a point to spend time with Him and in His Word. In such times, I easily convince myself that I don't hear Him because He doesn't care. Recently I was living in such a time and something crazy happened. I want to give some real-life examples of how God really does meet us where we are.





EXAMPLE #1: 

THE WORK OF HIS CHILDREN'S HANDS

I've been reading this amazing series by Christian author Judith Pella called "The Daughters of Fortune." Two of the characters in these books start out as non-believers but eventually end up coming to Christ. It was through their individual roads to God that I became of aware of things God was trying to get my attention about. Through these works of fiction, God began to drive home Biblical truths such as His trustworthiness and His sufficiency. Things I knew I needed to hear but was too full of pride to discover by returning to Him. I remember I was the second book and I was just overcome. I was talking to mom about it and all I could say was, "How much must God love me to be willing to reach through the pages of fiction to get my attention?" Crazy.

EXAMPLE #2:

"RANDOM" ENCOUNTERS WITH STRANGERS

Last Friday, I was helping out at a Christian kids' club and I met this guy that worked at the facility. Through conversation, I learned he's a believer and a little bit of his story. It was a very moment and once we were done talking, we officially met and he left. As he was walking out the door, he said, "God's always working even when we can't see it." Once I processed what he said, my jaw nearly hit the floor. I couldn't help but yelling at him (in my head), "Why would you say that? Why that truth? WHY?!" I was absolutely stunned. Later that evening I was driving home and thinking about that whole thing and I became so sure that the only reason I was supposed to meet this person was to hear that truth: That God is working. Through my unemployment  and (until today) my lack of car. He has a plan even though I don't understand it. Crazy again.

EXAMPLE #3: 

CHRISTIAN RADIO

Also last Friday evening, I was listening to a Christian radio station as I was doing all my running around. And song after song spoke of God's love and forgiveness and His desire for restored fellowship with His children. I had to waste some time so I just sat in the van in a Wal*Mart parking lot, listening to the radio with tears pouring down my cheeks as I realized that I was meant to be listening to that station on that day. More crazy but more proof that God loves me and us too much to watch us walk away.

Maybe you read this and you think, "Why not just meet God in His Word?" Well, you know I'm all about honesty and honestly when I'm in those places where I don't seek God out I have no desire to read Scripture. Is that right? No. Does He still love me? Yeah, He does. How do I know? He's willing to use unconventional means to touch my heart.

If you're in a similar place, I don't want you to read this and justify not running to God. That's not why I wrote it. I have no excuse for refusing to invest in a relationship with Him. Especially not a "lack of desire." That makes it too much about emotions. No. If you're in a similar place, I want you to read this and realize that God. Never. Left. He's still right there with open arms and open heart. He wants to welcome you back into fellowship with Him. He wants to show you the extent of His love and forgiveness. And I am writing this as much to myself as I am to you. I'm not perfect - no one is - and I still fail. I still lean on my own strength. Sometimes the best reminders to ourselves are those we try to give to others. 

Take heart, my friends! God is there and He is ready to meet you wherever you are!