When God Finally Gets Through to You

Looking Up in the Midst of the Pandemic

I love this worship song by Cory Asbury about the “overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.” There’s a line there that says

“There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me.”

Sometimes it takes something like the pandemic lockdown to make us see how true this is. That God would never give up going after us and would use every opportunity to get through to us. This is not to say that God intended this evil upon us. He never does that. But there are some things that He allows if that would be the one thing that would get your attention to your need to have a heart-to-heart talk with Him. And when this happens, you get to realize that He is not really after those religious prayers you have memorized since childhood. Or any ritual or sacrificial religious action that you haven’t done lately and is therefore making you feel guilty. No. He wants YOU.

There are some things that He allows if that would be the one thing that would get your attention to your need to have a heart-to-heart talk with Him

But let’s face it. We have all been busy. And whenever the veil of busyness lifts up, we tend to gravitate towards the things that make us happy and relaxed—all the things that cause us to forget the stress, the traffic, the heartaches we face each day. And seeking God is not exactly on top of our list of relaxing things to do. After all, we spend an hour in church every week, do we? For the time being, this seems to be enough to “appease” God and entitle us to His blessings. After all, we ARE being blessed, aren’t we?

In a recent mass procession during the feast of the “Black Nazarene,” several devotees were asked in an interview—“Why are you doing this?” The responses were almost similar: “So that my loved ones would continue to receive His blessings”. “Because I need this favor from God,” or “I dare not break this yearly panata (pledge) to continue to receive forgiveness for my many sins”.

The surprising thing is, even some who attend “born again Christian churches,” when asked this same question, are bound to say the same things. What keeps many people in their churches are the promise of blessings, favor, and protection for their loved ones.

It is in times like this—when the threat of death and sickness completely alters our comfortable habits and routines—that we somehow think about how everything is fleeting and temporary.

It is in extraordinary times like this that we come to terms with that one missing element in our life—that anchor for the soul. Beyond the blessings, we see the Blessor. Beyond the healing, we see the Healer. Then looking back at your “normal life,” you realize that no matter where you’ve been or whatever wealth or accomplishments you may have, admit it or not, there is still this certain sadness and restlessness, a void or emptiness that is not completely satisfied. You, just like any normal individual on this planet, have that natural hunger deep inside for the One who has made you for Himself. A hunger that could never be satisfied by anything else, not even religion.

But God who is all-powerful, omnipotent, omniscient, and Almighty—is not One to push and force His love and His reality upon you. If there is one thing that God seems to hold sacred, it is your free will and freedom to choose for yourself. It seems to be so sacred to Him He is willing to wait for the longest time until you finally come to your senses.

I remember a time when I was a teen-ager, and we were having Bible Study in this lady’s house. I remember she would always call her teen-aged son to join us but the son would always refuse. He was always on his way to a basketball game or some exciting event whenever we would sit down to talk about God. Fast forward to many years later—I was in the same house, but the lady who used to host the Bible Study had died many years before. We studied the bible and talked about God in that same room just like before, but guess who was at the center of the room this time—the lady’s son, now immobile and paralyzed from a stroke. The guy was now willing and hungry to hear about God. God had finally gotten through to him.

Yes, that “overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love” of God would do anything, short of encroaching on your sacred free will, to reach your heart and soul and make you realize that He is all you need. His sacrifice on the cross is one big proof He is willing to go through great lengths, do anything, give everything, to get you to that point of realization. Whatever it takes.

And at that moment of encounter— when He finally gets you to open up your heart and soul to His searching gaze—every excuse, every argument, every justification you’ve ever had to avoid this thing, would crumble. Real freedom, peace, and joy would come as your perspective and your life is changed.

That “overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love” of God would do anything, short of encroaching on your sacred free will, to reach your heart and soul and make you realize that He is all you need.

So go find a quiet, private space in your house. Get the noise of religion and ‘political correctness’ out of your head. Away from the prying, judgmental eyes of people you hold in high esteem, let your real self emerge, and call on to the One who really loves you more than you love yourself. Just you and God.

This is the best time to finally acknowledge that hunger constantly gnawing at your soul. You’ve got all the time you need.

Got questions? Comment below. Or email me at peopleofdestiny2020@gmail.com