You're a pretty, young, confident woman about to meet a man on a blind date. All of your friends have told you about how great this guy is. You get to the restaurant, sit down, and order a drink. Your date walks in. He is just so handsome that you think that you might already be in love! However, he won't look you in the face. He can't stop staring at your hands. You start to get nervous.
"Is there something wrong with my hands? Is my nail polish chipped? Does he have a weird "thing" about hands? Oh my goodness, my hands are ugly. I am so repulsive. No one is ever going to love me and my ugly hands!"
His focus should have been on your face. He should have been able to see the light in your eyes when you talked about mission trips. He should have seen the scowl you made when he said he hated cats. He should have seen the joy in your eyes when you took that first bite of sea bass. If only he would have watched your face, he would have known you.
Is this how God feels about us?
My aunt recently counseled me to focus on the face of God instead of what His hands are doing. It struck me as odd, but it continued to come to mind throughout the next few weeks. Was I really seeking God's face? Was I looking to see what He delighted in? What He hated? What He mourned for? To be honest, I wasn't. I was too focused on what God was doing. I spent all of my time thinking about what His plan might be and what He was doing in someone else's life.
I could hear His cry:
Beloved, Lift your head. Look at My face. Know that I am with you. Know that I have not forsaken you. Know that I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Know that I have plans for your future. Know that I delight in spending face-to-face time with you. Know that your broken heart brings tears to My eyes. Know that I love you. Know that I am preparing a feast for you. Know that I will restore what the locusts have eaten.
I fell to my knees in conviction. How many times have I gotten angry with a student because they won't look at me when I am trying to tell them something that will keep them from harm? Praise God that He is just, forgiving, and righteous.
God has hands, but He also has a face. He desires for you to look upon it. When you do, you will receive His strength, endurance, joy, passion, countenance, patience, love, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control, goodness, and faithfulness.
Father, Help me to lean into you. Help me to turn my eyes up from what Your hands are doing and stare into Your beautiful, glorious, eternal face. Amen.
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