Is That You, God?

So they have no excuse for not knowing God (Romans 1:20 NLT)

“Wait! What? No excuse at all? Ever? What about all those people who’ve never heard about You, God?” I’m not sure how I thought I knew about “all those people” who never heard about Him, but there I was, with my newly saved and now-offended heart, arguing with God. I had my own view of how a good and loving God should behave and that was too harsh—too final. I would soon discover that in my ignorance, I accused God of not giving “all those people” a chance, but in truth, it was I who didn’t give God a chance!

They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. (Romans 1:19)

It's very straightforward. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities... . So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20) When I set my heart to understand and know God through the created world around me, I immediately encountered Him. Not with my eyes or ears, but as I drew a breath of air. Wow! Air! I'm reminded of Elijah’s encounter with God. He didn’t show up in “a mighty windstorm," or “the earthquake” or “in the fire” but in “a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) In that 15-second awareness lesson on breathing, I knew the “invisible quality” of God as ever-present... as the sustainer of life. No air, no life. No God, no air!!

When I thought about it like that, I began to get excited. Creation wanted to introduce me to God and now I was paying attention. My mind began providing me with His witnesses. Niagara Falls: magnificently powerful. Morning dew: incredible gentleness. Holding a baby: comfort, tenderness. Birds singing, children laughing: joyful. People gathering: friendship. Tree roots: stability and strength. A rainbow: merciful. Fire: passionate. Light: purity. The sun, moon, and stars: Glory. Even the psalmist declared that the heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. (Psalm 19:10) Day and night they speak; without a sound or a word their voice is heard making Him known. Their message and their words go throughout the earth and to all the world. I can see how much I missed God. It’s obvious.

I hadn't made the connection that He was wanting me to make. I knew that God created everything, but I hadn't known Him through what He had made. I wish I had. I desperately needed Him. One of the most painful times in my life was when I was estranged from my family and friends. My own foolishness alienated me. And foolishly, I acted like I didn’t care. Oh, how God knew that I did. I was trapped. I’d created a horrible life for myself. I felt like a little girl, all alone, and scared of the dark. But God illuminated my world! He turned on the “hall light,” so to speak. Magnificent power set me free! I didn’t deserve it but looking back with this new awareness, I can see love and mercy at work. And just like breathing in and breathing out—He was always with me.

How kind God is to reveal Himself so accessibly, so readily to us. Through the things He has made, we really can know Him. No more arguing here. My prayer for us is that no matter what's going on, let’s take a big, deep breath and remember: we are not alone. God—the Breath of Life—is ever-present and His love will sustain us through it all.

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.