GOD, DO YOU SEE ME?

 

Psalms 13:1 (NIV)
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

               This past Sunday, as I was listening to a sermon on drawing near to God, a simple question entered my mind. God, do you see me? The question is not, God, do you see the world, or humanity in general? The question is, God, do you see ME, as an individual. This is the question that King David often struggled with as he penned the Psalms. It is the question that many of us struggle with personally.

               On one of my trips to Ukraine, during a bus tour of Kiev, our guide broke character to share her personal struggle. “Everything is for the masses! But there is nothing for me.” It is possible for us to struggle spiritually in the same way. God, from our perspective, everything is for the Church, but is there anything for me? Am I just a cog in a spiritual machine, or do I matter to you? The answer to that question is resoundingly positive. Even when we don’t feel it, God has His eyes on each one of use individually.

               Jesus, addressing the issue of worry and concern on our part, tells us that God is intimately aware of who we are and of our needs.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV) Not only does God see us in the circumstances of our life, He cares about our well-being. Again, Jesus gives us assurance of God’s personal interaction with us.

Matthew 6:28-33 (NIV)
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

               So, what keeps us from seeing God’s activity in our lives? Why do we sometimes feel like God has abandoned us? There is not an easy answer to these questions, but there are some clues for us to explore.

               One reason why we feel like God doesn’t see us is that we have taken our eyes off of God. We allow the circumstances of life to cloud our vision. We set our sights on our own passions and desires, and when they are unfulfilled, we tend to blame God for not caring. We feel most abandoned by God when He doesn’t fulfill our agenda.

               Another reason we may feel abandoned by God is that we have bought into the idea that God is distant, out there somewhere, but not close to us. I have often heard people say things like, I hope God shows up. Or, what if God showed up today. But the reality is that God doesn’t need to show up. He is already present. The truth is that we need to show up. We need to open our eyes and see that God is not distant, but that He is an ever-present help in our time of need. As Paul says, in his letter to the Philippians, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV) The reality is not that God has distanced Himself from us, but that we have drawn away from God. James calls us to reverse our direction and intentionally come into the presence of God. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 (NIV)

               We just came through the Christmas season. There is a familiar children’s Christmas song that says that Santa Claus sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. If you think about that, it is kind of creepy. But there is a far more profound person who indeed sees you in every circumstance of life, God.

Psalms 139:1-4 (NIV)
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

               Rather than being creepy, David sees God’s watchfulness as comforting and reassuring. We should as well. God is not unaware of what we are going through. He is not a disinterested bystander. God really does care. So, the answer to the question, “God, do you see me,” is a resounding YES.

               As you read the Bible, you will discover that we are not alone in wondering about God’s care. But what you will discover is that in every situation God is very present and very much actively involved.

Psalms 46:1-3 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah