One of my favorite moments in all of Scripture is undoubtedly Job's proclamation, spoken after a period of suffering greater than most of us will endure in a lifetime: My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.
We've heard a lot about God in this country. We have access to His written Word, and many commentaries on it besides, through books, sermons, music, and movies. Many of us were raised in church and memorized the answers that were fed to us, answers that addressed almost every question about God imaginable.
But there is a vast chasm of difference between an abstract concept and a tangible reality. You can research the Grand Canyon all day long--read detailed descriptions of it, look at pictures, videos--but to go there and see it for yourself is a completely new and profound experience that no amount of head-knowledge can ever give you. And I can assure you with the utmost confidence: what is true of the Grand Canyon is true of the Creator of the universe.
An encounter with God changes everything. In learning about Him, we pour all our energy into finding the "right answers." And when He doesn't work according to our understanding, when there are no answers to be found, we (like Job) become confused and disheartened.
But when we see God for who He is, when our knees bend under the weight of His glory, when we hear that quiet whisper of His voice--knowing all the answers doesn't matter anymore. Caught up in the midst of His Presence, we now not only know the truth, but can believe it. It is the place where faith is born.
It's going to be worth it in the end. Every struggle we endure, every sorrow we bear, every sacrifice we make. When we stand in the Presence of the King, all the rest will seem like so much dust, insignificant and soon swept away. Tears wiped from our face, eyes wide open. We will see like never before.
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