Lately when I put my kids to bed I've been praying with them that God would reveal God's self to my kids in their dreams. That when they dream something scary, they would remember to look around for Jesus and say, "God, where are you?"
This morning I walked out of my room and groggily asked one of my toddlers how he slept. He very casually told me that when he was about to have a scary monster dream, he found Jesus. Jesus came up to him and invited him to kill the scary dream, together. He said they both put up their hand, palm facing outward, and "killed the scary dream".
I have been waiting for this moment. The moment that my kids call on Jesus and find that Jesus meets them in their fear, in their vulnerability, in their joys and in their sadness. And here we are in my kitchen and my son is recounting a moment when he was vulnerable and scared, and he quite literally found Jesus. What a joy.
This Sunday we have the privilege of hearing from Pastor Linda Skinner in a message on Luke 4, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. In her sermon notes she says, "Everything that Jesus does and did is an act of love... we can come boldly to Him because He knows what it’s like to be alone, powerless and hungry in the wilderness."
When I read Pastor Linda's notes it reminded me of this painting by Kelly Latimore called, "Christ in the Wilderness". One reason I love it so much is if you look at Jesus' face He is looking vulnerably toward where I imagine God would be in this picture. Jesus looks like He is desperate for God. And he was! Jesus, in His vulnerable, hungry, probably physically uncomfortable state, leaned heavily on God- and God met Him.
God meets us too.
When my son finished telling me about his experience with Jesus and God, I asked him, "What did Jesus and God look like?" I'm curious, what does Jesus and God look like to a toddler? He responded with a shrug: "They just look like Jesus and God." His answer made me want to dive into Pastor Linda's discussion questions this week.
What are my pictures of God?
Is my picture drawing me closer to God or pushing me away?
Who and what have be instrumental in forming my picture of God?
As I reflect on her questions I add this prayer. "God, will you reveal who you are to me? Not who I think you are, or a picture of who I think you are, but who you truly are. Thank you that you are already doing this and forgive me for the ways I neglect you and create my own vision of you. I want to know you. Amen"
Friends, as you go about your week may you know that we get to lean into God and God will meet us. May you know that God -and Jesus- invite us to face our scary dreams with Him and empower us, equip us, and send us- but never leave us. May you remember that in your vulnerability- in your fear, in your maybe uncomfortable state, in your joys and in your sadness, in the scariness- to look around for Jesus, because He will meet you.
May it be so.
Peace be with you church,
See you this Sunday at 10:30am in-person or online.
Chelsea Maitland
Worship Leader