“But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you, my help, come quickly to my aid.”- Psalm 22:19 (ESV)
Sara Hagerty concludes Chapter 5 of Unseen as she observes we no longer resent hiddenness. That’s because now we share with Jesus the devastating pain of human rejection. Thus, through Jesus’ weakness, He gives us permission to be vulnerable – undone.
In addition, Ms. Hagerty states, Jesus’ callused, earth-stained fingers gently hold our raw and bleeding (tender) parts. As we expose our weakness, we lean in to Jesus.
Yet, just like Adam and Eve in the garden, our humanity requires coaxing to leave our hiding places to face God. Often we find it much easier to obey God’s rules than lean our souls into full surrender to Him.
However, Sara adds, life teaches us that only babies say, “Up, please.” Therefore, we chafe at childish dependence on God. That’s because, the author suggests, we’d all rather “learn the hard lessons about love in a tidy sermon rather than the rough-and-tumble of our lives.”
As a result, we tend to resent the moments of our day that remind us of our weak spots. But that’s when God wants to hear us, most likely in a faltering voice, say “Up, please.”
Consequently, Sara encourages you to invite God into the:
- places you’re working hardest to remain strong
- times you shut down on any given day
- panicked texts you want to send to a friend
- desire to rummage in the refrigerator for something to eat
- places you’re coaching yourself to be tough
Today’s question: How have you experienced God’s nearness at the nexus of hiddenness and vulnerability? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Begin to see God within our story”
