Walk Proud

If you could tap God on the shoulder, would He turn around and look in your eyes? Would He listen to you? Are you busy following God’s commands, but you wonder if He notices you among the indiscernible crowd? Are you waiting for a miracle? Are you waiting for an introduction with the God of the universe? I promise there’s nothing you can hide from Him. He sees you inside and out.

If you’re like me, you want a moment alone with Him. The Bible says God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). I, a believer, am the jealous one. I used to envy older people, because they had circled the sun more than I had. I used to envy younger people, because they were so innocent. Some would sing to God with a pure, powerful voice. Some would pray in a rich, meaningful way. How could I not be jealous? Some had gifts I could only dream of. Some exhibited peace, like water running through a brook. Some could speak the language of revelation. Some could see into my soul and diagnose me of an ailment. God would provide the cure. I discovered that He is the source of every good gift (James 1:17). None of His favors would I deny!

I wish you joy, not because I love you and will always love you (cue the Whitney Houston song), but because God loves you. With a modicum of trust, you can have faith that God loves you with an everlasting love. God’s love is more immense than an ocean, more spacious than a serene heart, more filling than chocolate, more knowing than a mother. God’s love binds us. I know He loves you and created you to pursue goodness. He designed you to pray and to be in relationship with Him. You and I are nothing without Him.

Part of life’s balance is to determine when to seek God and when to turn to your neighbor. You need a plumber? First, pray to God for a solution, but you better ask somebody. We all need to improve our help-seeking behaviors. Sometimes we are afraid to ask for help, because there may be a high price tag attached. Sometimes we don’t know who is qualified for us to rely on. When it comes to choosing a plumber, we can compare, but we must remember that God is incomparable. He is our ultimate source. He is infinite. There’s a saying, the longest name of God is the collection of every word of the Bible in order, preserved in a unifying connection. The Qur’an gives us a simple phrase to remember God, “in the name of Allah.” While there are more than ninety-nine names of Allah, you can appreciate the beauty of God as you learn His names; He is the Most Loving (Al-Wadud), the Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman), and more.

It’s important to know Who God is and Who God is not. He can be a faithful Friend, but He is not our enemy. The Devil, Shaytan (Satan) is our enemy, so humans have a common bond. We are fighting the same enemy, so turn to your Lord as your first line of defense.

Stand beside your neighbor in prayer. Stand out for excellence in your profession. Stand up for the God you believe in.

Don’t forsake Him and flee. We learned that truly God would never abandon us. He is in our midst. Be present with Him. Abide in faith. There may be many of us and only one of Him, but that’s the beauty of humanity versus divinity. We’re not engaged in battle with our God. We’re not wrestling with Him. We’re seeking Him in humble submission.

Humans cannot compare to the Creator and Sustainer. Our light is like a candle; His light is like the sun. Yet, He does not diminish us. He lifts us up by His spirit. So, live your life facing the source of your strength. Don’t feel like you have to work to get His attention, because He knows you intimately. Don’t feel left behind. God is gracious. He is our peace. So, greet your neighbor with lovingkindness, but reserve your worship for Him. He will place you where you can shine.

Pray for guidance. Pray for ease. Place your hope in Him. Sometimes, reality is easier to accept with our eyes closed. The world around us is a mess, but there is order in creation. In time, if we pray with our face down to the ground, if we accept the things we cannot change or like Angela Davis “change the things we cannot accept,” we will open our eyes to a world we co-created whether a film, a classroom, or theater. Not that God has partners, but we can all be authors shaping our life story, not in search of His glory. Not in competition with God, truly He is the First and the Last, but in alignment with the right ideals and principles. Then, we can walk proud.

Best, with love,

Yeru