Signposts

One thing Pastor Tim encouraged us to do this past weekend was to write down our life stories. While doing this we were supposed to note times when we felt that God had revealed Himselves to us and where we felt Him most closely. He went on to talk about how in the difficult times when God seems far away, that we can look back to those 'signposts' where we felt God close and be encouraged that even in those lonely times when we feel He isn't speaking to us, He's still there and that we can cling to those moments.

Growing up I remember countless times in my life where I really felt God's presence. On some occasions I've actually felt as though He was holding me in His arms. Those times are unspeakably amazing. They really make me yearn for life beyond this world...when I will speak with Him face to face whenever I want, and feel His physical hugs. I've always found though, after those monumental moments, when life when back to normal, God seemed to drift away. I thought that I was a failure for not being able to stay close to Him on a daily basis. One of the things I learned this past weekend though, is that these moments of silence are normal. I never realized that even those great people that God used in the Bible also had times of silence...where we don't hear about amazing things God was doing in their lives. I'm talking YEARS of silence. How nice to know that God can use me even though I go through droughts where I can't feel Him closeby.

I really don't understand why it is that God chooses to reveal Himself so clearly at some points, and seems so silent in others. I will never understand why He does the things He does. So, I choose to cherish those special moments where I can feel Him and those will carry me through the silent times.