At a ladies Bible study last year, one of the women was describing how this study had impacted her. She said, “This study has brought God closer – like throwing a rope around the moon and pulling. You always loved and knew Him, but now He’s closer – bigger – more present in my personal space and not so far away.”
I love that she shared that and it’s so true. Having said that, I have found that when God is close (and He wants to be) the light He gives off is very bright – it illuminates. This is where so many people struggle. As we draw closer, He draws closer. His presence illuminates everything! When it illuminates what we think is “good” in us, we are happy. When it illuminates what we think is negative in us, we feel shame and often this is where people send Him back to the far away place and regret drawing Him near. They don’t see that the illumination is ALL a blessing.
Recently, a worship leader publicly let his frustration out over the microphone at a community event that my husband and I were attending. He felt so bad afterwards and came to talk about it. He said it really revealed an area of immaturity in him and he was sorry and shamed by it. I told him to rejoice! I told him that the enemy came with a situation to try to humiliate him, but he picked the pockets of the enemy. He got the lesson – he allowed God’s illumination and he saw the immaturity (the area that needed to grow) and he came away with an upgrade! Every situation is an opportunity to receive a gift from God – a lesson – a Kingdom principle that will grow us if we allow it. Throw a rope around the moon! Pull it close! Let it illuminate everything!!
~Kristine Morgan
The Pastor’s Wife