(This first posted on July 22, 2021.)
When God calls me to something hard, or to make a drastic life-change, I want clear indications that I’m actually hearing from Him. I tell Him that, and I’m not being demanding nor does this come from a lack of faith. I trust His wisdom and guidance completely, but I don’t always trust my ability to hear and discern Him. And so, I ask for assurances, simultaneously deciding to obey however He leads while asking for the strength to do so.
I don’t believe God faults me for this. He’s so gentle, so loving and attentive, and He gives me what I need. In those moments of uncertainty, He assures me of His grace and reminds me of His power and plans. Sitting in His presence, surrounded by and filled with Him, enveloped in His love, all my questions tend to fade. Inspired by His mission and the honor of being used by Him, I find I don’t need to know every step. I only need to know He’s with me and that He’s got everything all figured out.
This is often how He prepares me–for the good, the bad, the difficult and painful, that lies ahead–not by reminding me of all I can or will or might do, but rather, of who He is. All-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing sovereign Lord.
That may have been, at least in part, why He revealed Himself in such a powerful way to His disciples in Matthew 17. Six days prior, He had shared some really hard and confusing news: He would be rejected by the religious elite and would ultimately be killed, but then, after three days, He’d rise from the dead. (Luke 9:22) And then, He basically told them that if they wanted to follow Him, they needed to be willing to suffer as well. (Luke 23).
Consider, this occurred during what appeared to be the height of Jesus’ ministry. Large crowds were following Him and He was gaining influence. And now, He was telling His disciples that He was going to die? That didn’t make sense! And it certainly wasn’t what they expected. They’d left everything–their jobs, their way of life, and any dreams they might have entertained prior–to follow Christ, likely envisioning something similar to the first century equivalent of Billy Graham revivals. Not suffering, rejection, and tombs.
Can you imagine what must’ve gone through their minds? The questions, confusion, and likely, inner turmoil. I don’t know if they began to doubt Jesus, that He truly was the long-promised Messiah, but I think I might have. I might even have felt a bit cheated. We can respond like that, can’t we? When ministry endeavors don’t go as we expect or whatever God has called us to feels more challenging and less glamorous or overtly fruitful than we’d anticipated?
And that’s when He reminds us, as He did with the disciples, that He is so much bigger than anything we encounter or do today.
As He did with the disciples. Scripture says, “2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (Matthew 17:2-3, NIV).
Through that awe-inspiring display, I wonder if He was intentionally strengthening Peter’s, James’s, and John’s faith (Matthew 17:1-13). Was that why He allowed them to see His glory in a way no other human, not even Moses, had? Why He confirmed, with such vivid and irrefutable clarity, that He was the one the prophets (Elijah) spoke about, the fulfillment of the law (Moses)?
As David Guzik, from the Enduring Word, wrote, “A sight of Christ’s glory while we are here in this world, is a good preparative for our sufferings with Him, as these are preparatives for the sight of His glory in the other world.”
Through His transfiguration, Jesus made it clear, before His disciples saw Him hanging on the cross, mocked by those in power, that He was God’s Son, the Messiah.
He gave them powerful, unforgettable, supernatural proof.
Like I said earlier, I believe He lovingly prepares and assures us as well. He answers our questions, strengthens our hearts, and ignites our passions so that we can more boldly follow Him. Our callings? They won’t always be easy. Life this side of heaven rarely is. But we can hold tight to the same promise Christ gave His disciples, when He shined so brightly before them: His glory extends far beyond this severely broken world, and one day, we will be fully surrounded by His light.
In the meantime, like the disciples, we climb up on that mountain, that place where we can get alone with Him. Where we can sit in His presence and reflect on how vast and beyond comprehension our Savior is. And we realize, no matter what comes or what we might face, He is and always will be enough. Big enough, strong enough, present enough, and faithful enough to carry us through.
Let’s talk about this! When was the last time you pulled away to sit in God’s presence to catch a glimpse of who He fully is? How might taking time to do so help strengthen you for whatever He’s calling you to do?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from and encourage one another.
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I had not read that part before and thought of what it demonstrated to them, and now that I think on it, I can see how crucial it would be for them. My question is, why do we need preparation for the sight of His glory in the other world?
That is such a good question! The confusion likely comes because there was more to his quote I now realize I should’ve added. He was referring to, how, because we are made to reflect Christ, seeing Him in His glorified state ensures us of our future reality. We will be “like” Him. 🙂 At least, that’s my understanding.
Blessed assurance…🩷
I don’t know if this was your intent or not, but your comment reminded me of the hymn by that name. 🙂 Such a beautiful hym of such a wonderful truth! 🙂
That hymn did come to mind when I read your post 💛🌼🙏
🙂 🙂
A lifetime ago before I became a Christ follower, my 6 year old daughter died of a brain tumour while I was in the midst of divorcing my alcoholic husband.
She was a devout little Christian even though we were not.
For three days before her death she continuously said “look at all the flowers ” when I asked where they were, she pointed up.
I became a Christian immediately after her death, but years later Satan started tormenting me with doubts on whether she was truly saved or not.
I was by then working at a Christian organization.
There was a woman there, whom I had never met, but she knew who I was and told me her husband had actually gone to visit my daughter in his ministry and that she was fully saved.
I had never met them before.
Carol, what a beautiful story–in the vision God gave your daughter before her death, and no doubt the comfort and assurance that gave her. (I’m reminded of the vision God gave Stephen, the first Christ-follower martyred for his faith, prior to his death as well.) And what a tender demonstration of love to you in providing you with the assurance. you craved regarding your daughter’s eternity! Our Father is so loving and kind! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story with us!