I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve asked God, “Where are you?” Even now, I’m asking Him this question, as I transition my life to Australia. I’ve asked Him this question many times in the past, when it’s come to relationships or getting into university programs or getting a job. I’ve often cried the question out in agony, “God, where are you?”
Sometimes, I wonder if this is the right question. I wonder if I’m asking it with the right heart. “Would I treat a friend like this?” If a friend didn’t do what I wanted, when I wanted, how I wanted, would I question their existence? Would I question their loyalty or their interest in me?
As I look over my life, I can’t deny the way God’s been involved in it and all the things He’s done for me. Now, when I wonder, ‘God, where are you,’ I know God is in the place of His provision. Sometimes, the reason I don’t see Him, feel Him or experience Him is because I’m off on my own, in some other place.
The Place
I’ve come to realize the problem is that I’ve often been in the wrong place, looking for God to show up there. I’ve come to realize that being in the PLACE of God’s provision is important to receiving what He has for me. For example, when I’ve asked God continuously about a relationship and felt as though I haven’t received a response from Him affirming it, it’s often because I’m not in the PLACE of His provision. Saying it plain, I was in the wrong relationship. His provision came when I entered the right relationship. When I searched for a job, and I didn’t receive the interview, it was because I wasn’t in the PLACE of His provision. When I fast and pray and pray and fast over an opportunity and never hear back from the contact, it’s often because I’m not in the PLACE of God’s provision. It’s not that God is not providing; the problem is I’m not in the place where God WILL provide. God loves to provide! (Matthew 7:11) He’s super generous by nature, but I must be in the PLACE of His provision to receive His gifts.
Be Still
Now this is counterintuitive, but if you want to get to the place of God’s provision, you’ve got to be still. I know this is a hard one to swallow, especially in a “go get ’em” kindof a world, but everything is topsy turvy in God’s kingdom. If you want to know how to get to the place of God’s provision…be still. Psalm 46:10 tells us “Be still and know that I am God.” If we are still, we will hear God’s direction, and we’ll know where to find God. When God leads us to the place, He willprovide.
Where are you today? Are you in the place of God’s provision? Remember, once you get there, acknowledge His role in getting you there. Psalm 107:8 encourages us to give thanks to God for all He does for us. “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness.”
Share with me! Where are you?
(Photo “Presents” Credit: Alice Harold, Flickr, http://bit.ly/UzfQDd, License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)