I’m reading through Suzanne Eller‘s book, The Mended Heart (God’s Healing for Your Broken Places) for a book review that I will post when I finally finish it.  However, as I was reading, I stumbled upon this question:

What if no on else sees in me what He does?

My heart stopped because I realized that was the question of so many hearts, including my own.  I have shared with you over the past months (here, here, and here) some of the ways God has moved in my life.  I refer to this season as “The Next Step” because I believe God was moving me to a new season in my relationship with Him–a deeper, more intimate relationship.  Part of this “next step” required some “next steps” on my behalf, most of which involved letting go of control and letting God move.  Those still feel kind of like inaction instead of “steps of action”

I have fervently prayed every day for God’s direction and “Organized Steps of Action” and since July, God has given me a list of 8 steps.  However, what I’ve found is that when God calls us to obedience and the “next step”, we often aren’t sure how to take the next step.  What if we take that step and it doesn’t go like we thought?  We want to trust God, but let’s be honest, it’s scary.

Jesus presented His disciples with the “next step” in John 16:17-18

At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

Jesus had just dropped a bomb on them.  He was going away and the disciples had so many questions.  They were accustomed to a certain way of doing things WITH Jesus.  Now, He’s telling them that He’s leaving.

Can you imagine their questions?  Can you imagine their fear and insecurity?  He was guiding them towards the next step in their journey.

What did that look like?

Where do we go when we have questions?

What do we do when the Pharisees try to trick us?

What if no one else sees in me what He does?

There was the question.  The question I believe we all face as we walk on this adventure of faith with Jesus.  As Jesus begins to give you a glimpse of what He sees when He looks at you, do you find yourself stunned, even embarrassed?

He sees the gifts you’ve been given through the Holy Spirit, He notes the talents and abilities that God created within you.  Jesus points out the personality you have that fits perfectly with His body of believers.  And for a second, you begin to buy in, you begin to believe you are what He sees.  But, the question still haunts you, “What if no one else sees in me what He does?”

Suzanne Eller says this,

Jesus’ message to His disciples, and to you and me, is that it’s not our strength or power that will transform us.  Yes, we make changes.  Yes, we open our scabbed and broken heart to His tender touch.  Yes, we allow Him to move us in uncomfortable directions to discover new paths–and leave old ones behind.  But we can stop stressing, because…it’s a partnership.  You and God–and He’s bigger.

Have you considered taking “the next step” with Jesus–a giant leap of trust?  Maybe you’ve walked up to the cliff ready to jump and backed away.  Don’t forget that God isn’t unaware of your fears or your failed attempts.  He gets it…you’re scared but He’s there ready to catch you, ready to show you more about Himself and even the really fantastic things about yourself that you may not even know yet.

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“What if no one else sees in me what He does?” is the wrong question.  The better question is “What if I miss out seeing God?”

Take the plunge…He’s right there.  He’s got ya!

Question: What heart question do you find yourself asking in regards to your relationship with God?