Psalms 27:13. I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living.
Before you can be healed, live sold out for Christ, and see God’s goodness–first, you must be honest and vulnerable with God.
God knows your circumstances, your struggles (cares, worries, fears, doubts, stresses, pain, etc.), and your motives. God knows you. So, because knows us, we’ve got two options in life:
- Hide behind our defense mechanism or
- Surrender and become vulnerable (honest) before God.
Why surrender instead of hide? Imagine you’re on the ocean shore. Waves tickle your sandy feet, and the sun blocks out any darkness. You’re free! But have you experienced all of the ocean, when you’ve never left the shore? Now, imagine you’re in the middle of the ocean. It’s scarier, but there are things out here that you’ve experienced before–lightning on the waves, whales and dolphins, coral reefs, and starry nights.
When we think we’re safe on the shore, we miss the deep beauty of the ocean. When we build a wall to protect ourselves, we often shut out other good things too.
God knows you. And you are safe with God. However, oftentimes that phrase “you’re safe with God” is misinterpreted because we don’t know God.
How do we be vulnerable with God? How do we see His goodness? How do we know Him?
Verse 4. One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
Let’s break this down. The psalmist holds one desire over all else–to be with God.
- today, tomorrow, for ever
- to “behold” His beauty
- to inquire God
Today, tomorrow, for ever. Being with God is an everyday and every moment thing. You cannot walk for God, if you’re not walking with Him.
To “behold” His beauty. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, “Behold” means “to gaze upon” or “to call attention”. Remember to really see God’s goodness, you first must be honest with Him.
To inquire God. Being honest with God means just that. To be honest–without cover up, completely true, laying it all out there, and being without reserves (and if you do have reserves, then tell Him that too). Inquiring (seeking, asking, etc.) God about anything and everything is a vital part of being with Him.
Life is full of worries, stresses, hurt, shame, and lies. We cannot do anything to change God’s love for us (Romans 8:31-39). He knows all of you, and won’t love us any more or any less. So, today we have two choices:
- Hide behind our defense mechanism or
- Surrender and become vulnerable (honest) before God.
God’s waiting.