Come and see

I recently had a conversation with a friend where we were talking about a situation that we had both experienced and were unsure of how to handle. One of those, “there’s no formula” and “it’s not black and white” situations. (Sorry to be vague).  It lead me to think about all the times I have felt unsure of a decision or uncertain about the next step in whatever I was doing.

As we were sharing our hearts and processing through, I remembered a revelation that I had gotten several months ago. I had been reading the book of John and came to this part in chapter one:

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples heard him say that, they followed Jesus.

 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’

They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means “Teacher”), ‘where are you staying?’

‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

 

Here’s what struck me. The disciples asked Jesus a simple question. “Where are you staying?” They were probably expecting him to give them an address or tell them the name of the people he was staying with. But instead of simply answering their question, he invited them to “come and see.” He invited them into intimacy with him, and it says that they spent the entire day with him. Their question launched them into intimacy and I doubt that by the end of the day, their original question even mattered to them anymore.

I started thinking about all the times in my life that I have asked God specific questions. “Should I do this or that?” “Should I go here or here?” Questions where I want a specific answer. And sometimes He gives that answer. But more often, I feel like He says, “Come and see.” He extends an invitation to me and if I take the invitation, it launches me into a deeper relationship and intimacy with Him.
He’s not withholding information from me. He’s inviting me to get to know Him better. He’s inviting me to a place where he can enjoy me and I can enjoy him. And somewhere along the way, my questions get answered without me realizing it. Or the questions cease to matter anymore.

I recently read something by Bob Hazlett that underscored this:

 “The reason God brings uncertainty into our lives is to bring us into deeper relationship with Him. I find that when God answers one question, His answer creates ten more in its place. That is God’s nature. He wants to keep the conversation going. Uncertainty provides conversation.”
 

So next time you feel uncertain about something, know that it’s a good place to be. Because if you let it, it will be unto knowing Him better. Keep going back to Him again and again and again. And I don’t know about you, but my whole goal in life is to be known in Heaven as the most intimate lover of Jesus. To be intimately acquainted with all His ways. And if uncertainty leads me to that, then I'll take it.