Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen
Hebrews 11:1
Oh to see it, to touch it, to hear it clearly… How many times have I thought, “ I will know this is true/real/the direction… if I can just see it more clearly, or have a physical sign or hear it directly.”. The faith journey has so many unknowns, uncertainties, inexplicable ways. This weekend as we explore angels looking at faith and fear we will read from Genesis 22, Psalm 34, Hebrews 11 and Matthew 2.
When I was a teenager I listened over and over to the song by the Who “See Me, Feel Me “. I can remember thinking as a 13 year old that this whole “faith thing” was so hard and if I could just have a sign or particular experience then I would “know” that all I was learning about God and exploring in my faith journey was “real”. Music can take us places where we feel something quite deeply. Maybe this is why we attribute singing to angels even when scripture doesn’t say that they sing. They praise God.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Luke 2:13-14
This weekend as we explore faith, fear and angels I pray that you will experience some peace and join in praising God. Also I hope you will consider stepping out into the unfamiliar. This past weekend I started inviting people to share “God Sightings” during worship. My intention is that we learn to put words to our experiences of seeing God at work in the every day and ordinary. This can be an opportunity to provide for one another those assurances, signs, hope and encouragement of God’s activity in the world. There may be times we have extraordinary faith experiences like those I have been reading about as people encounters with angels.
Not all of us have had angelic experiences and this isn't a cause to judge ourselves or others. God is a live and at work in the world. I hope you will consider how what yoau are experiencing in your every day and ordinary can be viewed with a “holy curiosity”. s we study scripture related to angels, join in a month of “Angels in August”, share the ABC’s of gratitude on our Facebook page let's encourage and support one another.
There are so many ways we can practice faith. As a 13 year old I didn’t understand that I could learn and practice awareness of God at work in the world . I thought it was just that some people were naturally stronger in their faith or that maybe God loved some people more than others and they were given special signs or experiences or that only super special people got to see God alive and at work in the world. In my teenage doubts and fears God amazing grace and love were present- I just didn’t always understand how to see it, touch it, or hear it. Let’s keep learning and exploring together.