Six Ways God Shows Up for Us
Six Ways God Shows Up for Us
What if God didn’t show up? What if Adam and Eve walked in the Garden after eating the fruit, and suddenly God just stopped showing up? What if God had left us up to ourselves? Instead, we find that God indeed showed up. He walked back into the Garden, even though sin was now present. God called out to the creation He loved so dearly, even though they were hiding. God called out. God sought them. God took the first step.
All throughout scripture God showed up for mankind. God didn’t just leave us when we messed up, He continued to show up and as we take a brief look at a few verses in the Bible we will see that God still shows up for us today.
God Shows Up To:
1. Give Us Purpose
Abraham in Genesis 12 was just minding his own business. God shows up in Abraham’s life and invites him on a journey to fulfill a deeper purpose. We too, as Christians, are called out for a deeper purpose. God doesn’t just save us and let us be. God saves us so we can be used by Him. What a privilege! What a joy!
2. Redeem Us
The entire book of Exodus reminds us that God will never leave us in our sin. Redemption is here. Through the entire narrative of the Bible the underlying thread holding it all together is redemption. God is a God who redeems.
3. Set Us Apart
The book of Leviticus was once a book of the Bible I avoided, now I love it. It is probably one of my favorite top 5 books of the Bible. Why? Because it reminds me of how holy God is, but also that He has called me to be holy as well. God wants us to be set apart, different, and that takes us holding fast and gaining a closer relationship with Him.
4. Work Behind the Scenes
Sometimes we don’t see where God shows up. Many of the Old Testament books, especially the book of Esther, reveal that God is always working behind the scenes – often unnoticed by us. God’s work, sovereignty, and amazing providence can never be dethroned.
5. To Provide for Us
Over and over in the Psalms we read how God provides for us. Psalm 23:1 reminds us that our Shepherd loves us. God shows up to give us what we need, every time we need it. I’ve seen this in my own life as a missionary living in a third-world country. God supplies our needs! (Philippians 4:19)
6. To Teach Us
The Proverbs is a book of wisdom. God shows us to teach us about who He is and what He expects from us. We can learn a lot from God and what He desires for our lives from this book of the Bible.
These are just six ways, what more can you think of? The Bible continues after the book of Proverbs and teaches us more about God’s willingness to show up for His people. God doesn’t ever abandon us. I love these words in Joshua. This is actually after Israel sinned and were defeated by the city of Ai. They repented and removed the sin. God didn’t leave them. He said this instead:
“Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” Joshua 8:1
God was still going to work, provide victory, and redeem the Israelites. And He will do the same for us. God has shown up for us in the past – and He continues to do so.
If you are struggling today because people have failed to show up for you – remember God has shown up! Download this free Loneliness Reading Plan here.