Looking for God?
Have you ever asked the question, “Where are you, Lord? I am looking for you.”
Here are some of the things in my life that I am noticing lately as I look for God, “Lord, I can’t seem to hear your voice. I don’t know what I should do in this situation. I feel lost. I do see and feel you in the sunset. I see your glory. I see you in the face of those I serve with at the free medical clinic. I can't seem to feel your presence as I think about this situation. I thought you called me to do this, but you seem far away now. I hear your voice when someone says, ‘I love you.’ I feel you and encounter you in the pages of Scripture. Every second of every day, I want to see you, Lord, and notice your presence and where you are working and join you.”
A hero of our Christian faith, Corrie Ten Boom and her family risked their lives to save over 800 Jews and refugees during the Nazi invasion of Holland. She has taught me so much lately about pausing and looking for God.
She shares in her book The Hiding Place,
“In only one way was this new prison cell an improvement over the first one. It had a window. All day I kept my eyes fixed on that bit of heaven. I would look around at the bare little cell and wonder what conceivable victory could come from a place like this.”
Let’s pause. Take a few minutes to read what she shared a few more times.
I paused as I read this. I felt invited to reflect on what she might have meant when she wrote this. I noticed how she was looking for God even in her jail cell. She found Him as she looked through a window with light breaking through. She didn’t have any answers as to why she was in a jail cell suffering unimaginably along with the Jewish people. She had more questions than answers. I wonder if she was even looking for answers. What she found in her questions was a window with a light. She even mentioned it was a “bit of heaven.” Her last prison cell did not have a window. What did she sense or feel that was like Heaven in the midst of pain, suffering, and a million questions? She sensed a presence. A Holy Presence that touched the deepest part of her pain.
What are you drawn to as you read this? Take a few minutes to reflect and write down what resonates with you.
Corrie Ten Boom teaches us to look — to go to the window and see a bit of heaven!
What does it mean to look?
LOOK, v.i. See Light. The primary sense is to stretch, to extend, to shoot, hence to direct the eye. We observe its primary sense is nearly the same as that of seek. Hence, to look for is to seek. (King James Bible Dictionary)
Looking means seeing, sensing, stretching, extending, seeking.
We long to see God at work in our lives. We long to feel His presence. We long to hear His voice. We long to feel Him near. We long for Him to be working all things for our good and His glory.
But life. Questions. Unanswered questions.
Have you ever wondered…..
Why do I feel I am not welcome in this space?
How could a good God allow this?
I don’t feel His presence lately.
Why won’t He answer my heart cry?
Why am I always tired?
What do I say yes to and no to?
How do I welcome strangers when they don’t believe like me or act like me?
Does God welcome me when I have totally messed up?
I don’t understand your timing, Lord.
I am not even sure I believe there is a God.
The voices within seem to whisper or scream… You aren’t enough, You don’t have what it takes, Aren’t you ever going to get over this or change that behavior? or you fill in the blank ____________________.
What questions above seemed to resonate? Maybe you can think of your own question(s).
Spend a few minutes pondering or writing your questions in your journal.
We ALL have questions. You AREN’T alone! I want to welcome your questions today. I want to welcome you. I want to welcome the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us in our questions. Since the beginning of time, God has welcomed our questions. I wonder sometimes if it’s because He knows that is where we can begin the inward journey to deeper spiritual transformation. Think of someone you know who is a good listener, who welcomes you just as you are. Maybe that someone is God or a friend, or maybe you haven’t felt safe anywhere to ask hard questions. You are in the right place. I am learning to welcome questions in my own life. I think there is something to find in our questions. A formation begins. We begin to share a story. A deep place in us that longs to have words and a spaciousness to explore. When we invite God into this spaciousness, something holy begins to happen. He meets us, and we move from our head to our heart. We can have all the ‘right’ answers and have all the information, but is that what forms and transforms us? Wasn’t that our invitation when we said yes to following Christ and His ways? It is here where we can discern and see! It is here where we hear Him whisper, “You are my Beloved. Now go and show the world my love — show it to everyone you meet!”
What if everything we go through in life is a gift leading us to deeper intimacy with God?
One of the most important practices we can practice is a pause. Pausing to look, notice, and pay attention. When we pause and invite Him in, we are opening ourselves to become more of who He created us to be. We are all becoming. This work is slow, and sometimes ten steps forward and two steps back and repeat.
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
The work of spiritual direction that God has invited me into has become one of the most beautiful spaces I enter with those I get the privilege to companion on their journey. This space is safe. It is soul space. It is holding space for another to bring their questions and be curious and look for God. We pause and notice together, knowing that the Holy Spirit is the only director. He is so kind to lead us and guide us as someone shares their story.
Then Jesus spoke...
You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
Luke 6:21-MSG
This is the upside down kingdom of God.
Notice where the blessings are in this passage.
Do you feel you have lost it all? This is where God’s kingdom is! Are you ravenously hungry? You are ready for a meal you won’t believe! Have you cried this week? Joy is coming!
When God invites us to the window, it is amazing what we begin to see! I am praying you see more of Him this month as we approach Thanksgiving.
Feel free to print this practice for November - The Practice of Looking for God!
Holy Pause… Pause to notice what is going on in and around you. Jesus is with you.
Go to one of your favorite windows. Try to sit there for at least 15 minutes. No need to say anything. Just pause. I have taken my journal to my favorite window lately and journaled some reflections around the question below.
What are you holding, and what are you noticing?
I invite you to practice this for November. Look back and see what you notice. This is a great discernment practice.
Some of my reflections this past week..
I noticed how I feel rejuvenated when I can be outside in nature! Thank you, Lord, for your creation.
I felt drawn to notice how Jesus interacted with Peter during an episode of The Chosen. It is similar to a situation I am going through.
I noticed an invitation to say yes and an invitation to say no. I held tension in the yes and no.
I noticed my joy as I sat around the table with my family and grown kids. I didn’t want them to leave.
I am holding a feeling of sadness sometimes as my kids are grown and the house is quiet.
I am holding excitement around the upcoming holidays. It is my favorite time of year!!!
What are you holding, and what are you noticing?
Pray… Invite the Lord into a conversation.
Lord, you say that I am blessed when I have lost it all, and that your kingdom is there if I look. You say when I am ravenously hungry, you will feed me a Messianic meal. You say I am blessed when my tears flow freely, and that joy comes with the morning. Lead me to this window. A window where I feel your presence and find your kingdom. Thank you for welcoming me and my questions. I want to experience a bit of heaven here on earth. Help me to linger here with you and pause. This is where I find that you are enough. You will do the work for me, not me. This is a holy and slow work of becoming. I want to be transformed for the sake of others. I want everyone to know your love and be invited to the Messianic Meal that awaits every single person!
Spend some time simply lingering and looking.
Follow… Help me go where you go.
What are your next steps to a deeper journey with Christ? Trust the Lord to show you in the days ahead. Maybe it’s learning more about spiritual direction. Maybe it’s joining a group that helps you look for God in your life. Discernment Groups are a great way to grow deeper with others and learn to look for God. Maybe it’s reading The Hiding Place. Maybe you’re being invited to welcome others with their questions. The Lord will lead and guide you to where He wants you to follow Him.
If you want to learn more about One-on-One Spiritual Direction or Discernment Groups, feel free to reach out at tracietack@gmail.com. You don’t have to journey alone. If you want to schedule a free consultation, call to learn more. I would love for you to reach out! Stay tuned for the 2025 offerings @Holy Pause Facebook Group and Instagram @holy.pause!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Grace upon Grace,
Tracie Tackett
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