Have you ever wondered where Jesus is? Have you been in a situation where you desperately needed Him and thought He was nowhere nearby? Have you considered He might have been there, and you didn’t recognize Him? Do you know you wouldn’t be there first one?
We find ourselves in a variety of situations in which having Jesus with us to answer questions or take care of the issues would be nice. We wonder where He is and think perhaps, He has abandoned us. Yet, He may be there, and we simply do not recognize Him.
Jesus often shows up when we least expect and when we need Him most. He shows up in ways we don’t expect. Sometimes, it is the person we least expect through whom Jesus works. It might even be someone we don’t particularly like. It might be someone we haven’t seen in a very long time. He might show by providing something from an unexpected source.
He often shows up at the time we need Him most. I can remember a time in which I thought there was no way I could complete what I needed to get done. I stood in my backyard and literally lifted my hands toward the heavens, looked to the heavens, and said, “God, I don’t know how I’ll get all this done.” The answer I received was, “Just do the next thing.” It all got done. That is Jesus showing up in a time of need.
He showed up to the apostles when they least expected and they didn’t recognize Him at first. Later they would. After He had revealed Himself through what He said and did. If the apostles, men who spent three years with Him, didn’t recognize Him, it is no wonder we don’t always recognize Him. Yet, we should not beat ourselves up for it. We should simply continue to trust that He will always be with us, just as He promised He would be.
I pray we all continue to believe Jesus is always with us. I pray we look for Him in our time of need. I pray each one of us will continue to seek Him and ask Him to reveal Himself to us. Know that Jesus is always with you. Look for Him when you least expect it. Trust that He will be with you in your time of need.
John 21:4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Marty Pressey 