What they say is true. The older I get,
the more I realize how much I don’t‘ know.
Does that make sense?
And truthfully, that makes me feel a bit insecure.
- I don’t know the answers to the theological questions of skeptics.
- I don’t know how to respond to the social problems that plague my generation.
- I don’t know the very best ways to navigate my kids through this confusing world they face.
…And I don’t know how to reconcile all that I don’t know.
Not knowing makes me scared. And because I am afraid, I hold back, putting up walls around my heart until things “settle”.
In times like this, I am forgetting the reality of what truly settles my heart and pleases God.
But God…He is good. In my panic and distress and craze to control, He gently draws my eyes back to this truth, and blows me away with His perspective.
Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that HE IS, and that HE IS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6
Simple, child-like faith seeks God without requiring complete
certainty on all topics.
- Its faith that will step into a hazy fog, trusting that God has the power to part it and make a path if that’s the direction He is calling me to walk. Even if it doesn’t seem clear or makes sense at the moment.
- Its faith that draws near to Him, not with an assurance of all I know but with an assurance of who He is. That He is good, and unchanging.
- Its faith that believes in this mysterious intimacy with our Creator that comes through a Man who lived, died and rose again…and believes that it is real, and true and within reach…making every other pursuit seem insignificant in comparison. (no matter what the current cultural voices around us may say)
And when I come back to Him, back to simple faith, I remember. I remember the sweetness of His presence, and how nothing compares.
Just taking time to worship. Just sitting with Jesus in prayer, I can see more clearly. It happens every time. Even in the places where I still don’t know all there is to know. Even in the places where I feel confused, He is near. And His nearness is my good.
I re-discover His peace that passes understanding.
Because, friends, He is a rewarder. And His rewards are true and real.
Every time I seek Him with an honest heart, He meets me. Not always in the same ways, and not always in obvious ways, but faithfully, He meets me when I sincerely reach for Him.
He rewards in ways that make me wonder why I ever wavered.
Seeking God is a worthy pursuit- the most worthy pursuit. And not seeking Him because I am uncertain about things in life is just plain foolish.
Because no matter what my limited perspective offers, this one thing I do know: He is good, He is worthy, He is the anchor for my wandering heart.
The rewards of simply being near Him (His peace, His presence, His wisdom, His power, His perspective, His purposes) are the sweetest parts of living.
“And since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:21-23
So friends, I am confessing this truth, my hope ~ it’s not our understanding or knowledge that please God. It’s our faith.
God is growing in me faith that admits how much I DON’T know, but that is willing to trust the ONE who does.
That’s all I have to say today.