I love looking at the stars. It’s not like I know a lot about astronomy or astrophysics, but I appreciate thinking about the bigness of the solar system. When I look at the night sky, I feel peace knowing that while I am small, God, who created the sun, the moon, the stars and the planets, is BIG. And if I look for Him, I will find Him. He’s right there, as sure and dependable as the stars in the sky.
God knew the stars would be awesome and demonstrate His greatness. That’s why, when God made a promise to Abraham, He referenced the stars. He promised Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky. Having a family seemed unlikely and maybe just a little bit crazy since Abraham and his wife were old and childless. And again, God referenced the stars through His Son Jesus. Revelations 22:16 says, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
How is it then, that I can so easily lose focus and fail to see the light God has provided through Jesus for me? I can think of three ways I am distracted.
- Other lights. Have you ever tried to see the stars in an urban area? City lights block out the stars. Growing up near Chicago, especially if I was downtown, I can tell you that all I could see on many nights was artificial lights. I would never even know if there were stars shining because of pollution, streetlamps, and store lights. These fake lights are like the times when I get overwhelmed by all the things around me, and I fail to see God because I focus on the cares of this world. (Luke 8:14)
- Did you ever try to see the stars on a cloudy night? Even now in West Texas, where the sky is big and the stars are spectacular, I cannot see stars on a cloudy night, because, for the moment, they are hidden. Yet, God is present all the time, because He said He is and will never leave or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
- Not looking. Can you see stars if you don’t look up? For me, this is arrogance or the thought that I can handle things myself. It is an illusion to think I can do things by myself. “Whenpride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
Even though there are three causes for my failure, there is only one answer, that God is enough. He is more than enough. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I have never seen the face of the God who created the night sky, but He exists. My vision is cloudy, and I don’t see everything I want to see, but God has a purpose. I fail by not looking up, but God is willing to give me another chance if I turn back to Him. But I will not find God if I don’t look for Him. Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
How can I move forward? To start with:
- Look up. See that God is there. He has always been there—even when you were not looking for Him.
- Do something different that turns your attention towards heaven. God will meet you where you are at. Set aside time to pray and read your Bible each day. Listen to Christian praise music. Find a church and attend regularly.
- Obey the last thing God told you to do. Maybe it’s to share His Word with someone. Maybe it’s to forgive someone you have held a grudge against. Maybe it’s to offer a small kindness to someone in need.
Abraham believed there was one God and was looking for Him. Genesis 15:5 says, “And He (God) brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” When God called Abraham His friend, He asked Him to look up at the stars He created. He asked him to believe and act on His promises even though they seemed impossible at the time. God asked Abraham to separate himself and follow God even though he did not fully understand the way. God makes the same request of us today.
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me and find me when ye search for me with all your heart.” If we look for Him, we will find Him. He’s right there, as sure and dependable as the stars in the sky.
— Written by Jill
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