What If God Was One of Us?
Originally Posted August 4, 2008
Do you remember that CBS show, "Joan of Arcadia"? It was about a teenage girl who literally saw and spoke to God, who appeared to her in the form of various regular people...a little girl, a cute teenage boy, an old lady, a garbage man, etc. He would appear to her and give her assignments, through which she would see Him working in her life and in the lives of others. When the show first came out, I watched a few episodes, but I remember thinking that it seemed really disrespectful and sacrilegious to reduce God to the level of a regular human being. So, in all my self-righteous glory, I quit watching the show.
Recently, the Sci-Fi channel began showing re-runs of the show. I started watching again, but this time, I had a different view of God, based on my experiences with Him over the past several years. I now watch the show and am often struck by how much Joan's experiences with God reflect His true nature. God may not appear to us in the flesh, but if we know Him, His Spirit indwells us, and His presence surrounds us. If we are fellowshipping with God regularly and watching and listening for Him to work in us and through us, we will see Him. And like Joan of Arcadia, He will ask us to do things that may not make a lot of sense to us at the time or may not be within our "comfort zone." But when we obey, we see how many people are affected by the ripple effect of our actions.
God asked me several months ago to begin writing this blog, but I just did not want to do it. Offer up the personal, intimate details of my life and my illness for people to read about on the internet? I was horrified at the thought. I have spent most of my life trying to cover up, hide, and mask the flaws, struggles, and imperfections of my life. Why would I just let people have an open window into my heart? Finally, kicking and screaming, I obeyed. But even in my obedience, I had my own expectations of how God would use me. I expected people who also have chronic illness to relate and be encouraged by my experiences with my health issues. Much to my surprise, God had another plan. I began to hear from people struggling with all kinds of different issues in life: finances, relationships, careers... We all have our own personal struggles with our faith, and it truly does encourage others to hear about how God has and continues to work in our lives to show His love for us and grow our faith.
Keep your eyes and ears open. God could be speaking to you through that person on the elevator, the cashier at the grocery store, the receptionist at your doctor's office, or that driver that cuts you off on the interstate. Be careful, or you might miss an opportunity to obey His will for your life for today...for this hour...for this moment.
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
