There was a time years ago when the Dark Ages of my life were so transformed I felt compelled to write about it. It was a book about living life better one step at a time. The acknowledgment I put in the back of the book simply said:
“To those who are struggling, those who are looking to improve their lives, and those who believe they have everything all together.”
Frankly, it’s the third group I worry about the most.
Because when we are struggling, we are more prone to humble ourselves enough to reach out to God. And when we open our eyes and search for the truth about life, generally we will find it. But when we don’t know what we don’t know—about life, ourselves, and God—it may take us longer to find our way. Even though sometimes time is running out.
How do people find God?
That is a profound question, but the answer is amazingly simple: to know how to find God, we simply have to look for him.
Everyone’s spiritual journey is different, but there are some common ways people seem to find God …
When we are struggling and in pain
We reach out to God more readily when we face tough times. We drop our pretenses of self-control and call out from fear and pain, looking for help. When we are drowning in despair, we become desperate for a lifeline, and God is there.
In the past, my family has dealt with addiction, depression, marriage issues, and financial problems. In the week I first wrote this article, our son had a serious accident and friends battled cancer and other life-altering issues. I don’t think I could have weathered those storms without God. He came near during those tough times, and he brought hope.
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)
When we look to improve our lives
Each of us develops a relationship with God in our own time. Sometimes, we may start out simply trying to make our lives better. Then, along the way, it occurs to us that God can play a role in our life-improvement journey if we choose to let him.
When we sincerely and openly question how things can get better, it opens the door for God’s whispers to reach our ears. In my late thirties, I became interested enough in God to start to read spiritual books and actually pay attention in church. Eventually, my investigations answered questions I had struggled with and opened the door for God to come in.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
When we think we have it all together
When things seem to be going best in our lives may be when we are most at risk. When everything is going well, and we think we have things figured out, it may not occur to us that we need God in order to succeed in the bigger game of life.
In my twenties and thirties, I experimented with different life styles in an unconscious effort to figure out what life was really all about. Partying, adventure, career recognition, making money, and getting married produced positive results—for a while and to a degree—but did not give me all the deeper, more profound answers I sought.
I didn’t find God right then, but I later realized what those times showed me: “I didn’t know what I didn’t know.”
“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
I want to share a secret about all those people who act like they have everything all together: they’re scared too! They probably won’t admit it, and they may not have even faced their own feelings yet, but they know something is missing.
Because even when circumstances are going fine, doubts and questions may creep into our mind, such as:
- Maybe I’m not as much in control as I thought?
- Am I an imposter who is just fooling everyone else?
- I wonder if there is anything out there bigger than me?
- I got what I wanted, why does it feel like something is missing?
- If there really is a God, doesn’t it make sense to find out about him?
Sometimes, simply becoming more aware of life and how it works—and doesn’t work—is a way we can search for God. And if we do begin to sincerely look, with an open heart and mind, we will eventually find him. Or, better yet, he will find us.
“To those who are struggling, those who are looking to improve their lives, and those who believe they have everything all together.”
How will you find God? By looking for him.
