A tall spire of rock juts toward the sky. Wind howls overhead. Suddenly, a gust nearly knocks you to the ground. Gasping in shock, you press against the forceful blast. You can’t see the wind—you can barely see the path in front of you. But you can certainly hear and feel the wind’s effects.
Encountering God can feel a lot like a windy night. You can hear Him speaking, know He’s nearby and not really understand the full force of His presence. When you experience God, it can seem like you’ve had the air sucked out of our lungs! But, unlike the wind, God holds you up when you want to fall down. Plus, God doesn’t work against you as you seek to follow Him.
Standing in God’s presence is a beautiful thing, but it can be a little frightening! Before Him you are fully known; all your sins and mistakes are laid bare. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” This can be a scary thought, until you realize something of vital importance: God still loves you—mistakes and all! Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
That’s where the wonder lies! God fully knows all your sins, even the ones you haven’t committed yet, and He loves you just the same. With that knowledge, you can press onward until you stand before His throne in full confidence that you are His forgiven child. Now get out there and enjoy the wind and the beauty of all He is and what He has created!
