Perceptions #200405

"Feeling The Presence of God"

by Norman Bales

I'm not into touchy-feely but sometimes I'd like to be. These Bill Gaither lyrics pretty much express my view of feeling the presence of God.

I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know.
But should I never feel a thing, I claim Him even so.

Perhaps I've allowed a mixture of cynicism, skepticism, practicality and rationalism to control too much of my brain. Maybe I'm afraid somebody will think I'm weak. Maybe I just act like I'm from Missouri and need to be shown. Whatever it is, I seem to have a penchant for resisting feelings - even good feelings. Edwin White laments our tendency to " . . . scar over our feelings about God." I'm afraid he hits closer to home than I wish he did.

Even so that side of me that pretends to be rational, objective and logical tells me that it's not a good thing to be cold hearted. Thomas Aquinas said, "There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning." The scriptures agree. Peter commended his readers because they were "filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8). When Paul wrote to the Philippians he said, "I always pray with joy" (Philippians 1:6). How could you be more emotional than the author of the 119th Psalm? "I open my mouth and pant longing for your commands" (v. 31).

But is my faith invalidated when my feelings are at a low ebb? Absolutely not. According to John, "God is greater than our hearts" (1 John 3:20). Bill Gaither echoed my sentiments when he wrote,

I believe. Help thou my unbelief.
I walk into the unknown trusting as a child.

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