An Easter Prophecy

There was a moment in worship on Easter Sunday when I thought the Lord might be sending me to the prophecy mic. We were singing "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed." Verse two begins:

Where doubt and darkness once had been,
They saw Him and their hearts believed.
But blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet, sing hallelujah.

And the Lord took me to Scripture, Jesus Himself saying those words to Thomas in John 20:29: "Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

But sometimes it can be so hard to believe, can't it? To remember how much He loves us, to remember that He is there, because we cannot see Him in all the ways we can see our trials, our sin and the sin of others, our family and brothers and sisters in Christ who are right here in this mess with us.

Oh how I long to see Him sometimes—so much that it hurts, long to see Him face to face. And we all know that we will, one day. Revelation (22:4) and 1 Corinthians (13:12) tell us we will see Him face to face. But that is then. What about now in the hardships and pain and sadness – or even the everyday little struggles – of this life?

And as I asked that question, God reminded me that we can see Him, if we're looking. We can see Him in so many different ways, ways He chooses to clearly show us that He is for us, He is with us, and He is listening: 

• Like when your Bible just happens to fall open to a verse you need to hear, or you're Bible reading plan for the day just happens to include truth you need to remember that day, that week.
• Or when you're struggling with something. For example "waiting", and every time you turn on the radio (and even change the station) a song about waiting on the Lord is playing, or you're struggling with "pain and sadness", and the songs coming are about God's comfort and presence. There are so many examples where God has spoken to me this way.
• Or when an answer to prayer appears through someone who couldn't possibly have known what you were praying.
• Or when an answer to prayer comes that is far greater than the initial need you were asking God to fill.
• Or when you are sharing a struggle with a friend, and they speak the very words God reminded you of on Sunday—in this case: He hears you, He is with you, He is listening.

Time and again He is faithful to remind us that He is with us. Are we not blessed? Are we not those! Those who have not seen, yet believe.

But blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet, sing hallelujah.

Rachel Pannell