Seek His Face

Seek the face of the Lord always.  Psalm 105:4

​I asked some students I was leading a retreat for one day what they thought God looked like.  One boy said he supposed God would look old and tired with wrinkles like his grandpa.  I asked him why he thought God would look tired and he said, “Well wouldn’t you be tired it you made the whole world in 6 days?”    Another student thought God would look beautiful like a flower and still a third thought God would look like a fancy king.  Next, I asked them where they thought they might see God. The standard answer was, “in heaven”. Then that one little voice said, “I think we can see Him everywhere, but we have to look with our heart.”  As I was tearing up and reveling in her deep and faithful insight, I was quickly snapped to reality by one of the boys who loudly said, “That’s not right, your eyes are in your head not your heart.” Ahh, kids…gotta love it! 
 
I came across this verse from Psalms a few weeks ago and it reminded me of that discussion with the kids about where God is found. If we are supposed to seek His face always, I suppose we’d better know where to look!  It’s easy to seek the face of God in the obvious, like creation, babies and children. I have no problem seeing and feeling the presence of God when I’m doing ministry!  Working with people who are seeking Jesus fills my heart with joy but it’s a bit more of a challenge to seek His face in the unpleasant, the unfair, and the unlikable. 

Seeking God’s face doesn’t just apply to people…we need to seek His face in situations and experiences. Sure, we recognize God in the events that are happy and joyful like weddings and celebrations but we need to know He is present in the sad and difficult and sorrowful events as well. His love, presence and inviting spirit are there even if we recognize no apparent good in the situation.  We are reminded not only to seek Him but to praise and thank Him in all situations.  That’s easy to say until we’re smack dab in the middle of ugly and we have to spit out the words, “God, I’m seeking you in this mess and I thank you for these circumstances…even though they STINK!”  Sometimes uttering those words can taste like vinegar in our mouth but if we repeat them again and again, we can begin to see His face and feel His presence guiding and teaching and blessing us.  
 
We like things to be simple and easy and happy and when they aren’t, we tend to think God has left us all alone.  Our purpose in seeking God shouldn’t be to make us “feel good”, the purpose is to build us up for Heaven and a life spent with Him. Very often the things we need to learn can only be taught when life isn’t all neat and tidy and happy.  But make no mistake…God is there…just waiting for us to seek Him so He can take us by the hand and begin the next lesson!  
 
A seed to plant:  Write the words, “God, I trust you, God I love you, God I will be faithful and seek your face” on a notecard and read it again and again when you’re in a situation where it’s hard to seek His face.

Blessings on your day!