Seek and You Will Find

Phone Call in a Bathtub 
by Mark Tennant

We live in an era that is loud. Our lives are filled with nonstop clutter and noise, and it can leave us feeling lonely, insecure, and drained. Regardless of our background, it can be tempting to wonder where, in the midst of all this, fulfillment lies. 

In the lowest points of life, we seek God. When our friends, family, and social structures fail us, we turn to all that we have left, usually as a last resort. So many people have stories of miraculous healing and redemption that only occurred when they hit their lowest point. For the rest of us who aren't at rock bottom, however, it can be tempting to wonder where God is in all of this chaos. Why is He so quiet? Why can't I see Him moving? Why does He seem to be showing up in other people's lives, but not mine?

It is very easy to blame God in this situation. When hardship comes, when we feel alone, it is easy to blame the all-powerful. The thing about God, however, is that He gives us free will. Our relationship with Him goes both ways. Though He initiates, it still functions with the same reciprocal balance as any other relationship. 

Who are you going to be closer to? The friend you talk to on the phone every day, or the friend you text "happy birthday" once a year? Human relationships grow stronger and closer when we seek to communicate with and love our friends. In the same way, if we ignore God for two weeks, our relationship with Him is going to feel far more distant than if we are "praying without ceasing."

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Matthew 7:7-8

Scripture says to seek, and you will find. Here, Jesus is talking about asking God for the things of God and about how the Lord always provides good gifts for His children. What better gift is there than a life-changing relationship with Jesus? If you seek Jesus, you will find Him. While it is always possible that He will approach in a miraculous divine appearance, you don't need that to find Jesus. He has already given you everything you need to seek Him.

The Bible doesn't say to wait around and do nothing, and maybe you'll find Jesus. It says to seek Him. Seeking looks like opening up your Bible to see what He has to say. It looks like praying with thanks and supplication. It looks like seeking a church that seeks Christ alongside you. Seeking Jesus is the most surefire way to find Him, and you are already equipped to do it. If you feel that He is absent or quiet, seek Him. If you feel that He is present and loud, still seek Him. In all circumstances, chase after Christ, and you will find Him.