Seek The Lord and Find Him
As any 4.5 year old would, my daughter loves to play “hide and seek”. We take turns, of course, but I was thinking recently about how if I really wanted to, I could hide so well that she could not find me. It would be a rigged game where the fun of playing would turn to fear for her because there is no hope of finding me and her security would turn to feeling alone. However, as most parents who have played this childhood game with their kids know, the best part is the moment when you let your child find you. I want Grace to find me, so I leave clues: my foot sticking out of the closet door, or making noise under the covers so she can hear me. Finally, the best part: There is a coming together, maybe a hug, and definitely lots of laughter and “bragging rights”. In addition to all that, there is also a quiet reaffirming to my daughter that “I am here. I haven’t left you, nor will I.”
We may feel at times that God feels far or inaccessible. We wonder at times if He even hears us. But I believe that there is a productive struggle in the Lord wanting us to seek Him. Look at what God tells Israel through the Prophet Jeremiah:
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…”
Jeremiah 29:12-14a ESV
This is coming to Israel at a time where they are to be taken captive by Babylon and God gives them a promise of restoration. Notice, God is NOT saying that to seek Him is futile. In fact, He says “I will found by you.” The implication being similar to how parents let themselves be found by their kids while playing hide and seek. But just like the real game, there are lessons learned and a child builds skills necessary for growth and awareness, and also learns the crucial skill of resiliency in a safe, controlled, environment. In the same way, we as God’s children, learn resilience, we learn to trust and stretch our faith muscles during times of seeking. However, the environment is controlled. We are ultimately safe because “if His eye is on the sparrow, then I know He watches me!” If we feel we cannot see Him or feel Him, we can be sure He is watching over us. He leaves clues to lead us to Him whether it be a word from the scriptures in your devotional reading, or a visit or embrace from a friend, the beauty of nature, etc.
One final thought: the other thing that having us seek Him does, is that it helps filter out the reasons we are seeking Him. He says in Jeremiah, that if we seek Him with all of our hearts, we will find Him. I don’t have to wonder what it looks like to seek Him half-heartedly. I know when my heart is not in it and it’s more looking for just the fish and loaves. Looking to see what I can get out of God…looking for His hand instead of His face. I can want the hand of God for what He can give and not want His face for all of who He is.
“You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Psalm 27:8 ESV
Let us seek God’s face, church. Let us do so with all of our hearts, knowing that in the seeking, we will grow stronger in our faith. Let us keep an eye out for clues God is leaving around you to lead you to a beautiful encounter with Him. Seek in confidence, knowing “He will be found by you…”
In Christ,
Pastor Javier
We may feel at times that God feels far or inaccessible. We wonder at times if He even hears us. But I believe that there is a productive struggle in the Lord wanting us to seek Him. Look at what God tells Israel through the Prophet Jeremiah:
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…”
Jeremiah 29:12-14a ESV
This is coming to Israel at a time where they are to be taken captive by Babylon and God gives them a promise of restoration. Notice, God is NOT saying that to seek Him is futile. In fact, He says “I will found by you.” The implication being similar to how parents let themselves be found by their kids while playing hide and seek. But just like the real game, there are lessons learned and a child builds skills necessary for growth and awareness, and also learns the crucial skill of resiliency in a safe, controlled, environment. In the same way, we as God’s children, learn resilience, we learn to trust and stretch our faith muscles during times of seeking. However, the environment is controlled. We are ultimately safe because “if His eye is on the sparrow, then I know He watches me!” If we feel we cannot see Him or feel Him, we can be sure He is watching over us. He leaves clues to lead us to Him whether it be a word from the scriptures in your devotional reading, or a visit or embrace from a friend, the beauty of nature, etc.
One final thought: the other thing that having us seek Him does, is that it helps filter out the reasons we are seeking Him. He says in Jeremiah, that if we seek Him with all of our hearts, we will find Him. I don’t have to wonder what it looks like to seek Him half-heartedly. I know when my heart is not in it and it’s more looking for just the fish and loaves. Looking to see what I can get out of God…looking for His hand instead of His face. I can want the hand of God for what He can give and not want His face for all of who He is.
“You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Psalm 27:8 ESV
Let us seek God’s face, church. Let us do so with all of our hearts, knowing that in the seeking, we will grow stronger in our faith. Let us keep an eye out for clues God is leaving around you to lead you to a beautiful encounter with Him. Seek in confidence, knowing “He will be found by you…”
In Christ,
Pastor Javier
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