May 11, 2021
There You Are
Suzanne Eller
Today’s Truth
Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. (1 Chronicles 16:11 NLT).
Friend to Friend
It was a family member’s baby shower and people were everywhere. As I made my way in, a blue-eyed little girl raced across the room and threw herself into my arms; it was my granddaughter, Elle. She hugged me, chatted with me for a moment, and then went to play.
Throughout the afternoon, she would come back in the room, look around, and circle through the jostling crowd, purposely making her way to me. She’d place her hands on my knees and say, “There you are!” It was as if she wanted me to know that, in the midst of a crowd, she was delighted that I was there.
In 1 Chronicles 16:11, it reads, “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
In this chapter we find a people who lived in a crowded world with crowded and complicated traditions. David had compassion on them and made a list of ways they could connect with and worship God.
One of those ways was to seek God.
David understood that they often made this more difficult than it should be. They made it about rules. They stood at a distance. They contemplated if a God so great truly wanted them to find Him.
You and I also live in a crowded world. It’s easy to focus on everything that competes for our attention. We are pulled in different directions as we love our people, do our jobs, and take care of life. We deal with the complications of our day and our world. We navigate those things related to faith – that ministry, that event, that task. We may even beat ourselves up because we don’t feel as connected as we want.
I believe David was providing a path to find God in the midst of all of that.
Search for Him. Continually seek Him.
As I write these words, I wonder: Do I look for Jesus like Elle looks for me? I’m not asking that out of condemnation, but out of a heart for connection. In the midst of my crowded thoughts and my crowded life, do I pause to look for Him so that I can simply connect with Him?
Each time Elle put her hands on my knees, her face lit up with delight, but it also brought me joy. I loved that she let me know that I was on her heart, even as cake and friends and good things pulled at her. Each time we seek God, pausing to look for Him in the middle of that busy day or that crowded room, I believe it delights Him too.
God loves us; that we know for certain. There is grace as we live our complicated lives and in our crowded world. There’s also beautiful connection waiting as we pause throughout our day to look for Him and say, “There you are!”
Let’s Pray
Lord, I can find myself focused on so many things. Some of those are good things. Some of those are things that weigh me down. May I pause right now and throughout my day to look for You. Thank you that You are near. I delight in You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Find a “There You are” moment in your thoughts throughout this busy day. When you do, speak a word of praise or breathe a prayer of gratitude. Simply let God know that you love Him.
More from the Girlfriends
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© 2021 by Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.
Originally published Tuesday, 11 May 2021.
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