Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

I long to see God. I mean, really SEE Him, walk with Him, hold His hand.

I envy Adam and Eve and their evening walks in the garden with God. I wish for the Old Testament encounters with God that Moses had, where God’s presence was a visible cloud, where Moses and everyone else KNEW God was in the tent of meeting with him.

As I venture further away from secular work and further into ministry, I find myself missing a physical “boss”… the memos, the emails, the meetings, the one-on-one project discussions across the big shiny wooden desk.

I’ve cried out in prayer so many times lately, “God, I just want to see You, to hear Your voice. To KNOW, I’m on the right path.”

But, for all my praying and all my crying out, a cloud has not descended on my home office, a pillar of flame has not gone before me to show me the way.

Why not?

Because God is developing my faith, and faith is not based on sight or sound or touch.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Why won’t God just show Himself to me or speak in a big, booming voice from above?

Because He cares more about my eternal salvation than my current comfort:

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

Saved by grace – through faith.

Because He wants me to draw nearer to Him:

“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6

We don’t have to get very close to believe in something we can see.

Take a closer look at the ending of Hebrews 11:6. It says that God rewards those who SEEK Him, not those who SEE Him.

Though it doesn’t always feel like it, it is in truth a gift that God withholds His physical presence from us. For one, our human bodies would be unable to take the exposure to His glory; even Moses was only granted to see God pass by, a glimpse, not a direct look (Exodus 33:18-23).

But even if He shielded our physical form to stand up to His glory, without faith, we cannot partake of His eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Without faith, we cannot grow closer to Him. Without faith, we cannot receive all of the rewards that He has for us. Some, yes, for He makes it rain on the just and the unjust, but to receive ALL He has in store for us, we must believe based on faith alone.

Sweet friends, though I’ve no doubt you too long for His physical presence to guide and to comfort, let us be thankful that God does what is best for us even when we ask for what is not; let us praise His goodness as our Teacher, growing us up in faith that we may receive the full bounty of His grace, the joy of knowing He is pleased with us, the fullness of hope that comes from drawing closer to Him each day.