The angel of God showed up to Moses in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it did not burn up! God saw that he had stopped to look and called to him out of the bush. “Moses,” He said, “I am right here. Exodus 3:2-4 from The Message
When God shows up in scripture, everything changes. His presence brings comfort, power, and transformation turning fear into courage and despair into hope. If He showed up then, as a burning bush, a soft whisper, or a light from heaven, does He still show up today? If so, how do we recognize Him?
Last week as I was lamenting the fact that I see very few of my old buddies from the pool, a new guy showed up while I was exercising. He just sat down by the pool and began to eat his watermelon slices. We said “hello”, then I went on about my exercises.
As I was wrapping up, an acquaintance from our former pool jumped in and swam a couple of laps. As he exited the pool, the other guy commented on the red, white, and blue U. S. flag bathing suit my acquaintance was wearing. The next thing I knew, they were both over by the hot tub, my old friend was in the hot tub, and the new guy was standing there at attention, saluting him while singing God Bless America to the top of his lungs.
It was odd, but it gets better. In a moment, the two of them began singing a hymn that was familiar to me, so from the pool, I began to sing along. They continued talking, and when I entered the hot tub, the new guy said, “So, I realize that you are a Christian, what’s your favorite praise song?” I said, “Well, I have many favorite hymns, but how about Great Is Thy Faithfulness“?
He nodded, looked at my old acquaintance, and they began to sing it. He invited me to join in, and in that moment, God showed up for me. Who sits in a hot tub and sings hymns in public? It was a unique experience!
They both began to talk about their individual lives as Christians, and when they heard I was a minister’s wife, they insisted we meet again and sing more hymns together. We will have to see about that, but it will forever be quite a testimony that God does show up these days!.
If you are like me, when we see our country struggling, when we see the world in a crisis, when bad things happen to good people, when our loved ones and friends are struggling with illness or depression, or when life just gets hard, you sometimes ask, “Where is God” in all this?
God shows up in the Bible in times like these. When God showed up at the Red Sea, He divided the water for his people. When God showed up at Jericho, the walls came tumbling down. When God showed up in the early church, they boldly proclaimed His gospel and many joined them.
He still shows up today when things seem hopeless. Remember the old saying, “it’s always darkest just before the dawn.” He still shows up because He understands the struggles we are facing. He still shows up because He cares.
I’m not sure if he showed up for me because He knew I needed a new perspective on things, or if He just needed a laugh, but I like to think it was because He loves every one of His children.
Across the street from the bombed out Federal Building in Oklahoma City, where 168 people died needlessly and senselessly, there stands a memorial. At the heart of that Memorial is a nine foot statue of Jesus. But, the statue is not one of a stony Jesus with arms stretched wide, like you may have seen in the Ozarks or Brazil.
No, this is a nine foot statue of Jesus with his face in His hands, turned slightly away from where the acts of terror took place. The plaque reads, “Jesus Wept. “
There are so many times when we wonder why our lives have times when things look so hopeless. When Jesus shows up, we understand how much he cares and what a difference He makes. He brings peace, a new perspective, and a new purpose.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” I think that can be checked off my list!