He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 1 Kings 6:16
During my college years, I worked as a camp counselor for a couple of summers, but I wasn’t originally hired as a counselor. Rather, I was hired as the lifeguard. So, during the first week of counselor training, I wasn’t with the other kids my age. While they were off getting to know each other during hours of counselor training every day, I was off doing maintenance at the pond. At mealtime, I’d join the others, where it quickly became apparent that I wasn’t part of the group. They weren’t rude. It was just obvious that they were all getting to know each other while I was off doing other things. As they developed inside jokes, I became jealous. I wanted in on that. I wanted to spend time with them, developing friendships. Fortunately, it quickly became clear that lifeguarding wasn’t really a full time job and so, by the end of that first week, I joined the counselors, getting to know them by spending time with them.
We get to know others, only by spending time with them and God is no different. My now-deceased father-in-law used to say, God is a person (not a human but a person) and as such, he can be known a little or a lot. This is illustrated in today’s passage. In the story, the prophet Elisha found himself surrounded by the Syrian army who intended to kill him. Elisha’s servant quaked in fear, but Elisha did not. Why? Because Elisha could see God’s army surrounding the Syrian army. Why was Elisha aware of God’s presence when the servant was not? Because Elisha had a spiritual sensitivity that had been developed by years spent seeking God. Elisha knew God because he continually invested in his relationship with him.
The same principle holds true for us. God desires an intimate relationship with us. If we spend time investing in that relationship, we’ll get to know him, increasing our spiritual awareness and sensitivity. This is done by daily reading, praying, meditating, and listening to God.
Sadly, even though I’ve always believed that my relationship with God is the most important relationship of my life, I’ve gone for years without investing any time in it. Now, in recovery, if I desire to know God and enjoy the life he intends for me, then I must daily seek him. The only way to get to know him is by spending time with him, so daily, I must do so.