“God showing up.” We’ve heard the phrase a million times. But it’s a little bit of a misnomer.
I mean, think about it. If we truly have a relationship with God we know that He is ALWAYS there. He never left. He doesn’t just suddenly “show up”.
What I believe happens is that He opens our eyes to see glimpses of Himself. He reveals Himself to us. Sometimes it’s in a mountain top experience (Peter, James and John). Sometimes it’s in the middle of the fire (Daniel). In the center of the storm (the disciples) or by still waters (David). He can use blinding light (Paul) or a guiding light (Moses).
He can be heard through the “ridiculous” (a donkey). He can be felt in healing (the woman who touched Jesus’ garment). He can communicate in the dark of night (Nicodemus) or the cool of the day (Adam and Eve).
Sometimes His presence is more obvious because we are watching for it (Noah). Sometimes it shocks us because we weren’t (Jonah).
God uses the illustrations of the real life stories of the bible to remind us that there is nothing, no circumstance, no hardship, no silence, no boring day that He is not a part of.
Ask for it. Ask God to show Himself to you in a way of His choosing. And then watch. He WILL do it. He will do it in a way that reminds you that you are truly, deeply, madly loved. And that He would never THINK of leaving you…
Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you;he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 – The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Matthew 17: 1-2, 6-8 – After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light…they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them.“Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Exodus 13:21 – The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.
Daniel 3:24-25 – Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Mark 4:35-39 – That day when evening came, he said to his disciples,“Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,“Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Psalm 23:2-3 – …he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
Acts 9:3-6 – As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Jonah 1:17 – Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah,and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Numbers 22:28-31 – Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
Mark 5:25-29 – And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Genesis 3:8 – When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden.
