And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do…Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:13, 16 NASB)
Why do I hide from God? Do you do it too? This passage in Hebrews tells me to draw near because God has already seen through me, to my heart and motives. If I really think about it, that thought fills my heart with fright. If anyone knew what festers deep inside me, they'd run. Honestly, our interior life wreaks with chaos and much of the time we cannot even comprehend all the complexity that lies within us. But we have been seen through and invited to discover the depths of God's grace and mercy.
So let me ask you, when you pray, do you reveal the deeper levels of your heart, at least that bit that has floated into your awareness? When you are touched with joy, do you reveal to God the feeling or just say thanks? When your world surprises you by turning upside-down, do you share with God your hurt, shock, and pain or do you just complain? He's seen you through, nothing hides from His sight, not even the maze of your heart. The irony of ironies is that when we most want to retreat, He most desires us to draw near. God so desires to renew, reform and reshape our interiors that with open arms He asks us to reveal to Him the undercurrents of our hearts, especially the junk, pain and filth. In those moments of honest vulnerability, God moves and heals the soul. Jesus knows, as His openness and vulnerability in Gethsemane show, His Father invades with strength our weakest moments. Grace and mercy await, so let us draw near with confidence, not fear.
For Reflection:
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalms 34:4 NAS95)
- What surfaces when you take the time to see the emotions and motivations that lie beneath your desires and activities?
- When you approach God with vulnerability and transparency of heart, what happens in your prayers?
