By Steve Greene

Sometimes, it seems like God’s plan is to take us through the valley, not out of the valley.

The path of peace and growth is often in and through the valley. It makes such a huge difference if we can remember that we are just passing through.

God will show up. He has not forgotten you. He is with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. That is the message of Christmas. He is God with us.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8a) God says, show me you believe, and I will show you my presence. If you seek me, you will find me. If you make room for me, I will reveal myself to you.

If you haven’t sensed the presence of God for a while, maybe it’s time for you to pause in his presence. Maybe it’s time to quit running all over the place and just slow down, listen and wait on him.

The way to prepare for his provision and for his presence is to simply “Be still and know that he is God.” When you settle down and set aside time to meet with God, he will show up. Why should that surprise us? He wants to be with us. He invites us to come to him.

Think about this. God rarely reveals himself to people who are in a hurry. Imagine Moses driving 75 miles an hour past the burning bush. He didn’t fly by the burning bush. He had to push in on the clutch. He had to slow down.

Moses had been a big shot in Egypt. At that point in his life, he was a shepherd out on the hillside with his sheep. He was all alone. Someone said, “Moses spent 40 years thinking he was somebody. He spent 40 years finding out he was nobody. And then he spent 40 years finding out what God could do with a nobody.”

Moses was on the sidelines. He had taken a seat on the bench. He didn’t run past the burning bush. He had to slow down. He was waiting.

In fact, God invited Moses to take off his shoes and stay awhile. There, in the presence of God, he was standing on holy ground. It was time to be still and know that he is God.

How about you? Are you ready to slow down? Are you ready to wait? Are you willing to linger in the presence of God and allow him to provide exactly what you need today?

Steve Greene is the lead pastor of The Point in Seymour. Read his blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or email him at [email protected]. Send comments to [email protected].