Walking Unaware
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:13-16)
Have you ever looked back on a difficult season and suddenly realized God was there all along? That's exactly what happened to these two travelers on the road to Emmaus. They were walking with Jesus Himself, yet they had no idea.
When I was a kid growing up in church, I thought I had to feel something for God to be present. If there wasn't an emotional charge during worship, I figured nothing spiritual had happened that day. How spiritually immature I was! The truth is, you don't have to feel Him for Him to be there.
Think about a time when life pressed in on you. Maybe you were overwhelmed with worry or grief. In that moment, you might have felt completely alone. But looking back through the rear-view mirror of your life, can you now see His hand at work? Those "coincidences" that helped you through? The unexpected provision? The friend who called at just the right moment?
Margaret Fishback Powers captured this beautifully in her poem "Footprints in the Sand." When she questioned why there was only one set of footprints during her darkest times, the Lord reminded her: "My precious child, I was carrying you."
The Scripture tells us they were "kept from seeing Him." Sometimes God allows us to walk blindly, not recognizing His presence immediately. This builds our faith to trust beyond our feelings. Whether we're aware of it or not, Jesus walks with us through every valley and mountaintop.
Today, if you're going through a difficult season and feel like God is distant, remember this: His presence doesn't depend on your perception. The Holy Spirit lives within you, empowering you, whether you feel it or not. He promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And He keeps His promises.
Take time today to look back on your journey. Where can you now see Jesus walking beside you, even when you didn't recognize Him at the time?
Have you ever looked back on a difficult season and suddenly realized God was there all along? That's exactly what happened to these two travelers on the road to Emmaus. They were walking with Jesus Himself, yet they had no idea.
When I was a kid growing up in church, I thought I had to feel something for God to be present. If there wasn't an emotional charge during worship, I figured nothing spiritual had happened that day. How spiritually immature I was! The truth is, you don't have to feel Him for Him to be there.
Think about a time when life pressed in on you. Maybe you were overwhelmed with worry or grief. In that moment, you might have felt completely alone. But looking back through the rear-view mirror of your life, can you now see His hand at work? Those "coincidences" that helped you through? The unexpected provision? The friend who called at just the right moment?
Margaret Fishback Powers captured this beautifully in her poem "Footprints in the Sand." When she questioned why there was only one set of footprints during her darkest times, the Lord reminded her: "My precious child, I was carrying you."
The Scripture tells us they were "kept from seeing Him." Sometimes God allows us to walk blindly, not recognizing His presence immediately. This builds our faith to trust beyond our feelings. Whether we're aware of it or not, Jesus walks with us through every valley and mountaintop.
Today, if you're going through a difficult season and feel like God is distant, remember this: His presence doesn't depend on your perception. The Holy Spirit lives within you, empowering you, whether you feel it or not. He promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And He keeps His promises.
Take time today to look back on your journey. Where can you now see Jesus walking beside you, even when you didn't recognize Him at the time?
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2 Comments
I know He is with me even when I don't feel Him there. I have a song in my head today that is an old Carpenter song called "Close to You "A good reminder.
When our 12yr.old Daughter was undergoing chemo and radiation and she felt up for it we would go out to eat. I had spotted this man across the room at a table and the next thing I know he is standing at our table and pulls out a chair that was between my husband and Daughter. He sits down and says I couldn't help but notice the dogs on the front of her shirt ( a row of scottie) and he reaches over and touches her sternum and says you don't see these very often. I thought that this was odd but that maybe he was praying for her because he could tell from across the room that she was going through something. You see she had lost her hair and had latched onto a ball cap as a head covering. Then he gets up and leaves. The three of us do not discuss what just happened and I find out years later that neither of them recall that happening . God our Creator heals her and she goes on to do very well in school. BUT , there were trials and tribulations in there, UUUUU . BUT GOD, He is so good . So years down the road while praying for this same Daughter for wisdom pertaining to her Grad School choice, The Lord gave me a vision of that hand reaching over and touching her sternum. That was God...... God reaching out and touching her sternum. I failed to state that that was where her cancer was located, a Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma. He was reminding me that His good hand was on her. AND , that He sees , He hears and He moves. I hope that this will encourage someone. Thank You, Lord for Higher Aim and this ministry.