‘WITH’
I often find that the most profound words in the Bible are
the smallest one. For example, ‘if’, ‘but’, ‘when’ and ‘why’. We jump over them
and perhaps don’t think about them too much but when we ponder them they can reveal
great truth.
So what about the word ‘with’?
“God said, ‘I will be
with you” (Exodus 3:12)
In Exodus, God had a bold plan to rescue his people from the
suffering of slavery. Moses had objections: Me? Why me? I can’t do it! To which
God said, ‘I will be with you’.
Centuries later the disciples stood on a mountain top in Galilee. They
worshipped the risen Jesus but doubted their abilities and the way ahead. To
which Jesus said, ‘I will be with you
always until the very end of the age’.
It is interesting that God does not promise to take away all
the obstacles from our path, or keep us from all peril and pain. God doesn’t
promise to give us utter certainty and remove all doubts before we go out.
Instead God promises ‘with’…’I will be with you’.
When I think of those human encounters that feel most like a
window into God, what I have experienced is not a person who fixes things for
me or tells me exactly what to do. I have experienced someone who is ‘with’ me,
who is present in a powerful and real way. It is the person who goes with us to
the hospital or will let us tell that story again and again and again until the
bitterness eases.
God
could easily overwhelm us with answers, fixes, advice or interventions. Often
we wish that God would work like that..and yes, miracles do happen…but this is
not an over-functioning God. Recently, I visited the moving Museum of
Afro-American History in Washington DC. You begin in the depths of the museum
with the hardships and suffering of slavery and as you go through the levels you
rise through emancipation and the civil right movements to a floor that
celebrates the contribution of Afro-Americans to music, culture, and sport. It
is, obviously, a painful story but threaded throughout are smaller narratives
of amazing faith. A God who gives strength for people to make their own choices
and step forwards.
We
may think we need a God who will do it all, who will protect us from every pain.
Do we? If my human analogies are any indication, that is not our deepest need.
We do not need others to lead our lives for us or deal with our challenges on
our behalf. But we do need a God who is "with." Fully present.
Engaged.
"With"—it could be God's truest name. It is what we really need. And
what we have in our journey of discipleship.
Prayer
Emmanuel, God with us, thank You for being You. Amen.
A
Chair From The Greensboro Counter Sit In
