Tioga Wildflowers
I See Hints
If we look, intentionally, we can see suggestions of God in nature. And more in our lives. But sometimes, I need more than hints. Thankfully, we can garner more than hints.
I see hints
of your beauty
in a delicate and multicolored wildflower
of your grace
as you forgive and bless me
in spite of myself
of your power
as you work with our choices
and free will
and yours
of your love
in your relentless pursuit
of this sinful creature
of your presence
in each tree and river and smile
If I yearn for more than hints
perhaps I should look
more deeply
more often
more intentionally
I base my faith on two dimensions: external evidence and internal experience. Both are needed. I grew up in church and accepted Jesus, but that shallow faith didn’t survive my first year in college. So I embarked on a study of all major faith systems. Their claims and internal consistency, their historicity, and more. Frankly, the abundance of evidence for the biblical God surprised me, from fulfilled prophecy to the resurrection of Jesus to the accuracy of the biblical record. Paul recognized that creation leads to belief in a creator, “By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being” (Romans 1:20 The Message).
But faith also arrives with a personal dimension, our own experience. I’d seen unexplained God touches even when away from him, so that along with the external evidence convinced me to commit my life to him. That too is vital. In the book of Acts, God did some powerful work in a jail in Philippi, and the jailer who experienced this asked Paul and Silas, “‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household’” (Acts 16:30-31). Once more, God surprised me by making internal changes that impacted what others noticed…changes I’d tried to do and failed.
I suggest we need both. Merely having head belief eliminates a personal connection with God, while eliminating evidence and relying only on our personal experience leads to a subjective faith that has no anchor. The poem touches on both, and provides a hint for going deeper with him. To move beyond hints, let’s seek him more intentionally, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:16).
Let’s be earnest, OK?
Kick Starting the Application
How well do you balance external evidence and personal experience in your faith? What changes do you need to make? What are some personal experiences that convince you God is real? What is some evidence that gives you encouragement?