Thursday, January 7, 2016

Finding God's Presence ~ How to Find God When You're Hurting

by Nan Jones   @NanJonesAuthor


His robe swayed rhythmically, stirring the dust as He walked an often lonely trail. He walked seeking the lonely, the hurting. He sought those who lived as outcasts in the community. I can imagine His eyes searching, looking for those who needed to be encouraged.

There was nothing grand or lovely in His appearance - nothing that would draw the people to Him, nothing but His heart of exception. His heart for the abandoned. The broken. The defeated. His heart that opened wide to receive His people.

When I think of the manger and Jesus' birth, I know there is no pretense with our God. The pretense would have been found at the inn that had no room. The pretense would have been in the hustle and bustle of the streets demanding special attention and a grand procession on that Holy night.

And have you ever thought about how Jesus came to earth in the dark? I can assume this because the wise men and shepherds followed the great star to find Him. It must have been in the dark, or at least twilight. Or maybe the dawn.

It's always darkest before the dawn.

I love that.

Yes, perhaps night had fallen on this earth when Jesus was born. Certainly, in the hearts of man night had fallen. Separation from the Father God left a void, an emptiness of unparalleled proportions. He yearned for our love. We yearned for His touch. His Presence.

And so Jesus came.

He came to the unclean, the unholy.

He came for the broken, the unworthy.

He came for the wounded, the hurting, the lost, and the lonely.

He came.

And He still comes today.

Can you hear His footsteps?


"Arise, shine; For your light has come! 

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth 

and deep darkness the people; 

But the Lord will arise over you, 

and His glory will be seen upon you." 

~ Isaiah 60:1-2

*first posted on December 9, 2014

A Tweetable to Encourage Others


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