Understanding the obstacles that prevent us from knowing God: our context, capacity, and culpability.
At the start of 2021, I took a personal retreat. On the last day of my retreat, I planned to drive to an overpass where there was a magnificent view. Unfortunately, I ended up going down some small roads and found myself surrounded by massive trees in every direction. And then it started to snow.
I was so looking forward to enjoying a phenomenal view of the mountains…. And it didn't work out! I felt so disappointed!
You know there's a saying, "Don't miss the forest for the trees." Well, when you're driving down a tiny mountain road in the middle of a forest while it is snowing, it is hard to see anything but the trees!
I want to suggest to you that my experience of being lost in the woods is a helpful metaphor in our search to encounter God.
Part of the reason I was lost in the woods was all the trees. And part of the reason we have trouble knowing God is the environment we're in. Whether it is the experiences we've had, the people we know, the information that's available to us…. There are aspects of this world that make it hard to know God.
Another reason I was lost in the woods was my own limitations. If I was smarter or better prepared or harder working, maybe I would have done better. And we face the same challenge in knowing God. Maybe if we woke up earlier, prayed more, read more books, then we could know God. But at some level, we have to accept there's only so much we can do to know God.
Part of the reason I was lost in the woods was my sin. Now, this wasn't a major factor, but I have to admit I was too proud to ask for directions. If I could have humbled myself to tell someone my problem, I probably could have found a way to the top of the mountain. And this is a huge factor in why we don't know God. The truth is, we just don't want to know God! We'd rather live on our own terms.
As we get started, as hard as it is to examine ourselves, we need to look at each of these limitations. When we know what prevents us from knowing God, we can ask God to help us overcome those obstacles with his help.
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
What aspects of your own environment (experiences, relationships, information, etc.) make it difficult for you to know God?
In what ways do your own limitations (knowledge, skills, time, etc.) hinder your ability to know God?
How does personal pride or a desire to live on your own terms create barriers in your relationship with God? What steps can you take to humble yourself and seek God's guidance?
Share a personal experience where you felt "lost in the woods" in your spiritual journey. What factors contributed to this experience?
Reflect on which of the three obstacles (context, capacity, or culpability) is the biggest challenge for you in knowing God.
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