Quiet Places

Pastor Todd's quiet spot . . . 

"I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you." 

~Job 42:5  

I feel blessed that I have a couple very nice parks within a few minutes of my house, and I make good use of them.  I've written about it before, but I try each week to spend a morning in one of these quiet places, without a phone or a limit on how much time I spend there.  It gives me a chance to think without distraction.  It gives me a chance to read my Bible and pray without distraction.  Sometimes I'm there an hour or less, and sometimes I'm there all morning and into the afternoon.  Nature is a great way to get connected to God.

We see examples of that in the Bible.   For instance, in the story of Job.  Job's powerful declaration reminds us that there's a profound difference between knowing about God and truly experiencing Him. Job 42:5 captures a pivotal moment of spiritual transformation - the moment when intellectual understanding gives way to personal encounter. And throughout Job's story, God reveals Himself through vivid wilderness imagery-- in whirlwinds, stars, wild animals.  These revelations help in transforming Job's understanding from distant knowledge to intimate encounter.

The wilderness in scripture often serves as the setting for transformation. Moses encountered God in a burning bush in the desert wilderness. Elijah heard God's still small voice on a mountain after wind, earthquake, and fire. Jesus himself was led into the wilderness before beginning his ministry. These weren't just physical locations but spiritual landscapes where facades fell away and truth emerged.  

Job's transformation came after losing everything, when God spoke through creation itself. The Lord asked, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" pointing to mountain goats, eagles, and thunderstorms as testimonies to His wisdom and power. Through these wilderness images, Job moved from hearing about God to truly seeing Him.

What wilderness are you facing today? Perhaps it's literal-- a hike that left you breathless before creation's majesty. Or perhaps it's figurative-- a season of difficulty where familiar comforts have been stripped away. These wilderness moments invite us beyond secondhand faith to firsthand encounter.  In the wilderness, we're stripped of distractions. The noise of daily life fades, and we're left face-to-face with reality-- and with God. Like Job, our greatest spiritual transformations often come not in comfortable sanctuaries but in wild, untamed places where God's voice becomes unmistakable.

Give God some time each week.  Set it aside.  And whether your in the "wilderness" of your backyard or somewhere a little more remote, I think you'll be surprised at what you discover about your faith, about your relationship with God, and about yourself.  

~Pastor Todd Creason