Face to Face

It was actually just a simple gesture, but I have never forgotten it because it meant the world to me.

Sitting in the center of the table was a gorgeous candelabra. Absolutely exquisite. The candles were lit and the decor breathtaking. Yet, very quietly, she leaned over, and cupping each flame, she extinguished every candle one by one. She was now looking at me face to face, no obstruction blocking our view, and she spoke words that have remained forever etched on my heart, "I want to see you when I talk to you".

She was all about 'seeing'. Seeing past phrases, sentences, facial expressions, body language and into the very core of my heart. She knew the art of listening, and realized it involved so much more than just 'hearing'. I will always remember seeing my "Father's Eyes" that night.

Today we read of Moses opportunity in Exodus 33:11 to see God "face to face". The veil was removed so that nothing blocked their view as they communed together. Do you know what it awakens inside me when someone wants to see me that deeply? No surface acquaintance. No passing ‘hello’. Oh, the desire to be known. The longing for someone to care enough to look past the outer surface and journey to the depths. A casual greeting isn’t sufficient. An exchange of pleasantries doesn’t suffice.

That evening when someone took time to ‘see’ me there were ten of us seated around that table. Conversation continued to swirl and fill the room, yet for an instant the world hushed as in that intimate moment God spoke to my heart. A heart craving to be noticed and ‘seen’. For a solitary second, all pretence was stripped away and the Lord captured my attention. It was so much more than an kind gesture. It was God speaking to my heart.

“Joy, I see you. I will do whatever it takes to get close to you. I will knock down prison doors. I will destroy walls of strongholds. I will remove obstacles of character and emotion. It doesn’t matter what I see, I love you. To Me, you are absolutely beautiful. I want to heal each ache. I want My blood to flow into every area of your life that has become numb. I will replace your heart of stone.”

Suddenly, the fear of never being seen surpassed the fear of being seen.

Is there a ‘veil’ between you and God today? Is there something that you have kept as a safeguard of protection? Is God at arms length because you are keeping Him away? An obstacle is something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted. It impedes and holds up progress. It prevents you from receiving what you really need. It’s a barrier that limits and hinders God’s work in your life. I’m guessing, like me, your real “candelabra” is internal, but it still needs extinguishing so God can see you face to face. May the breath of God breathe on you today. May His Living Water quench flames of resistance and may the only burning be that of your heart longing for Him.