Too often we look to anticipation to carry us into an event. We believe, somewhere deep inside, that if we haven't built ourselves up towards a thing, a time, an occasion - then it is inconsequential or will surely be a disappointment. We measure our future connections with God by our past experiences with Him - and therefore limit Him.
You see, the times we run full force into the wonder that is the God of the universe, it was not as we had planned. It may have even seemed to be an accident, a coincidence. It was neither. It was the creator of the universe revealing to us in His full magnitude the glory of Himself in that moment. We were not prepared at all, but he made us aware of His greatness - and we were changed.
And so the next time we feel like He should arrive, we try to prepare ourselves. We weigh the preceding moments on what we know about ourselves and what we think we know about Him. We arrange things and times and try to control events and people, only to find ourselves at the painful end of a letdown - one that we anticipated, if we're honest.
We built up a moment so much in our minds, and it didn't deliver.
The problem was our sight. Not just the direction of our looking - which was backwards - but the openness of our hearts eyes. The vision of our spirit was set on what we thought we could explain. We had set up limitations and guidelines, boxing in a God that cannot be contained. We were trying to catch His mystery in a cardboard box and it just couldn't handle the mass.
For a faith to be practical, it has to shed that which we understand and be open to that which doesn't yet make sense. God is preparing a moment for us in His mystery. If we're stuck in our tunnel, telling Him what will help us, we will find ourselves disillusioned. If we lift our head from the pillow every morning anticipating greatness - He will deliver.
You see, the times we run full force into the wonder that is the God of the universe, it was not as we had planned. It may have even seemed to be an accident, a coincidence. It was neither. It was the creator of the universe revealing to us in His full magnitude the glory of Himself in that moment. We were not prepared at all, but he made us aware of His greatness - and we were changed.
And so the next time we feel like He should arrive, we try to prepare ourselves. We weigh the preceding moments on what we know about ourselves and what we think we know about Him. We arrange things and times and try to control events and people, only to find ourselves at the painful end of a letdown - one that we anticipated, if we're honest.
We built up a moment so much in our minds, and it didn't deliver.
The problem was our sight. Not just the direction of our looking - which was backwards - but the openness of our hearts eyes. The vision of our spirit was set on what we thought we could explain. We had set up limitations and guidelines, boxing in a God that cannot be contained. We were trying to catch His mystery in a cardboard box and it just couldn't handle the mass.
For a faith to be practical, it has to shed that which we understand and be open to that which doesn't yet make sense. God is preparing a moment for us in His mystery. If we're stuck in our tunnel, telling Him what will help us, we will find ourselves disillusioned. If we lift our head from the pillow every morning anticipating greatness - He will deliver.
