“Why can’t I see God?”
This is the question that consumed my two-and-a-half year old for a big chunk of the summer. It was our kids’ first time attending our church’s vacation Bible school (VBS) and it made a profound impression on both of them.
But on our youngest in particular.
After getting home late, all sweaty from dancing and singing, playing duck-duck-goose and visiting Egypt and Joseph in his palace, he’d be tucked in under my chin on the yellow rocker, drifting off to sleep, and then it would come floating up to me on lisped syllables, “Mama, why I not see God?”
We’d rock and I’d tried to answer with his chubby face stuck to the side of my cheek. But I could never find an answer that seemed to satisfy him. If Jesus was with us, why couldn’t he see him? If God was close by, then where was he? If Jesus is our best friend then why can’t we see him?
So we’d snuggle some more and I’d wind stray strands of his hair through my fingers and wonder how on earth to explain a God that promises he is as close to us as our own heart beat but that we can’t see with our own eyes.
It was Peter who finally answered the question.
I found out after a long day when we were on the phone comparing notes about the kids. And he told me that Micah had been asking him again why he couldn’t see God. I think Pete’s answer might have taught me more than it taught Micah. But it sure satisfied our curious youngest son who understands about super heroes and super powers and what it means to have a broken toy.
Pete tells me he simply told Micah, “We can’t see Jesus because our eyes are broken.”
That sure got his attention.
“Jesus is right here with us like he promises to be. He loves you very much. He sees you with your baby and your puppy and loves to look after you. But he also wants you to know that when sin came into the world, it broke our eyes so that we can’t see properly through them. We can see trees and flowers and bulldozers and cement mixers and garbage trucks and our family, but we can’t see Jesus even when he is right here next to us.”
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. 1 Corn 13:12.
“But, the great part is that Jesus promises one day he is going to fix our eyes. Just like how Jackson couldn’t see properly until he got his glasses. Well, one day Jesus is going to fix your eyes so that you can see everything just right. And you know what? Then you will see him and know that he was hanging out with you all along.”
Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corn 13:12.
And incredibly, that truth didn’t upset Micah. It liberated him. He loves to explain to us in slow and measured tones that Jesus is here, we just can’t see him “cause your eyes is bwoken.” And my heart aches as I see my faith through his eyes. And it seems that I am the one who is finally beginning to see.
ooooo, now that is good. i’m tucking that one in my back pocket and remembering it. totally puts a new perspective on things. i hadn’t thought of it that way before….
Ohhhhh, I can so get that. I needed the answer to that question too…especially on a trying day like today. He was right here with me, all along!
http://freeagentmommy.typepad.com/blog/2010/10/potty-princess.html
I like this. I was expecting more of an answer like, “God is everywhere. We see him in everything.” Have you ever heard the song “I Saw God Today” by George Strait. It’s really good.
I love the picture and love the explanation! I think that’s the best explanation of why we can’t see Jesus I have ever heard!
Such a beautiful post. I have been contemplating faith lately- probably exactly what I shouldn’t be doing… but anyways, this helps me to keep it simple ;)
Hey Girl,
I LOVE the answer to this question. That the issue with our understanding, as always, rests in our own human brokenness, human frailty. I love the reminder that everything we know and experience and taste of Jesus in the present is just a fog compared to what truly is,
and what will be.
My internet has bee patchy here at the house, so I haven’t commented lately, but I have been reading, and have loved especially your last several posts. Great writing, great message.
Hope you are feeling well,
Laura
Thanks for sharing….I love the word picture and will remember this one for myself and my children.
I love that explanation… so simple and yet completely true. I will remember this when my kids ask me the same question. Thanks for sharing that!
That is such a great answer to the very big question.
Beautiful.
This brought tears to my eyes. Such profound truth that even a tiny and tender heart can understand. Our eyes are indeed broken.
Ah…yes…what a wonderful answer.
And perhaps it is only when God begins to fix our broken heart that we begin to see glimpses of Him….no?
This is so very right on, Lisa-Jo (and Pete)! Love it.
Love this story!
I love that!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh, that’s just brilliant and wonderful. Thank you for sharing…
What a powerful response.
UNBELIEVABLE! My eyes popped when I read his simple response. Of course he’s right! What beautiful insight we can gather from our children, those children we are supposed to imitate, if we want to enter Heaven.
Wow. That is so insightful! I plan on using that to talk to my 4 and 2 yr old (and eventually my 8.5 mo old) about this subject. Thank you!
Wow, can I send my boys to your hubby when they ask those tough questions? LOL It always amazes me how easily my kids understand things that take me months to wrap my brain around.
Ann V is doing this thing on her blog “Walk with Him Wednesdays” where she talks about the spiritual discipline of “seeing” … This post SOOOOOO goes along with her topic from this week! How cool is that!
I just had someone Wednesday share this scripture as a comment on my blog… I – of course – did not pay as much attention to it as I should have… Now I’m wondering if God wants my broken eyes to really SEE something with that scripture since I’ve run into it twice in 3 days… my eyes is bwoken… thank you for the reminder.
Oh, and Peter < —— awesomesauce
wow – that’s just beautiful! so true.
sniff sniff.
i’ll know what to answer when my daughter asks me this someday (and I hope she will).
thanks for sharing this.
When my youngest son was about 5 years old, he confidently told me that the reason we couldn’t see God is because God is so big. I think kids understand things that stump us adults.
Love that answer! Reminds me of these lines from the poet Franz Wright: “and/ by the way thank You for / keeping Your face hidden, I / can hardly bear the beauty of this world.” A good prayer, I think.
Much love from Florida!
C