How can we recognize God's presence when He "passes by" unnoticed in our lives? God Sometimes Passes By Unseen Job cried, “Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him” (Job 9:11). We have felt that bewilderment. Yet the same God who seemed hidden to Job delights to reveal Himself—often in ways quieter, subtler, and holier than we expect. He Is Always Near—Promise After Promise • Psalm 139:7-10—no place is outside His reach • Matthew 28:20—“I am with you always” • Acts 17:27—He is “not far from each one of us” Why We Miss Him • Crowded schedules that drown out stillness (Luke 10:40) • Pre-set expectations of dramatic interventions (1 Kings 19:11-13) • Unconfessed sin that dulls spiritual senses (Isaiah 59:2) • Disappointment or grief that blinds the heart (John 20:14-16) • Familiarity that breeds inattentiveness (Mark 6:48-52) Practical Ways to Tune Our Hearts • Open the Bible daily; Scripture sharpens sight (Psalm 119:105). • Speak and listen in prayer—leave moments of silence for His whisper. • Keep a gratitude journal; thanksgiving sensitizes the soul (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Obey immediately; revelation follows obedience (John 14:21). • Gather with believers; God often shows Himself through His people (Matthew 18:20). • Guard purity; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Clues He Has Already Been Here • Unexpected peace in turmoil (Philippians 4:7). • Perfectly timed “coincidences” that advance His purposes (Genesis 24:15-27). • Doors opening or closing with gentle firmness (Revelation 3:7). • Conviction that leads to repentance, not shame (John 16:8). • Fruit of the Spirit quietly ripening where struggle once reigned (Galatians 5:22-23). • Testimonies from others that intersect your own story at just the right moment (Hebrews 13:2). Living Expectantly Stay watchful. Keep short accounts with God. Cultivate holy curiosity. When your day ends, pause and ask, “Where did I glimpse His hand?” Over time the unnoticed will become unmistakable, and you will rejoice to discover that the God who seemed to pass by was, in fact, walking beside you all along. |
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