We have all encountered Job’s “friends.” You know, those would-be comforters with their Biblical counsel that cuts like a knife.
But sometimes you need a real friend, like it or not.
I’m not talking about the, “Hey, how the heck are you?” kind of friend you see once in a blue moon. No, I’m talking about the kind of friend who will always be there, no matter what.
That kind of friend is very rare.
They walk in—when the world walks out.
So, there I was.
Life had ground to a complete halt.
Because of my daily blinding headaches I can’t work, I can’t drive, I can’t read or write, or even watch TV.
Now, it’s just God and me, and all the time in the world to chat.
Problem was, I didn’t want to talk. Not in those early days!
So, God did the speaking and I did the listening. What else could I do? I could barely walk across a room! Besides, have you ever tried to walk out on Omnipresence?
(Not likely!)
So, God begins to speak.
He starts by reminding me of others who had gone through a pretty rough time.
Guys in the Bible like Joseph, and Job, and Jeremiah.
I love the book of Jeremiah!
Jeremiah knew just what it was like to have his life fall apart, and yet he still wrote in the book of Lamentations,
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends… Great is his faithfulness: his lovingkindness begins afresh each day. (3: 21-23)God was about to teach me this truth.
He is a faithful friend even when you don’t want Him to be.
Each morning He would show up dispelling my darkness with His Light and whispering His encouragement into my stubborn ears.
It may sound crazy, but in a way?
I resented His coming.
Wasn’t it too late?
What earthly good would talking do now? My life was a mess with everything broken. (I mean, really broken!) I didn’t want to do damage assessment. I wanted things back the way they were!
God on the other hand, wanted me front and center—up close and real personal.
I didn’t know it yet, but He was there to bring the answer to a long forgotten prayer.
We were definitely face-to-face…
But heart-to-heart?
Not really.
So He asked me a question…
ONE WAY
How do you think My children see Me?
Take some time. Really think about it.
What does the scripture say?
Jesus said to His friend Philip, “…if you’ve seen Me you’ve seen the Father.”
You can always “see Me” by looking at My Son.
Now, look at the verse for today.
When I see you how do I see you?
When you see Me how do you see Me?
So often, My child, you try to see Me looking through yourself.
You wonder why your views of Me are clouded or distorted?
But, how could they be otherwise?
To see Me you must see Jesus. And to see you? The way I do? You must also see Jesus.
It is by your faith in My written word that you have been made right in My sight!
Where does your peace with Me (and with yourself) come from?
Yes, yes, being found right in My sight.
And, whenever I look at you, how do I see you?
Through My Son’s death and resurrection!
How often My children sing of “blood-bought and blood-washed,” but how few really SEE it!
I no longer see the darkness of sin when I look at you.
And you will never see Me for who I AM based on what you see in yourself.
There is only One Way, One Door, One Life. His name is: JESUS.
Now, do you see?
“So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have a real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1
Women With Destiny 