“I want to live a faithful, meaningful life. I want to feel God’s presence, bring about His kingdom, tell His story in every way I know how.” (Shauna Niequist: I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet)

Have you ever read something and immediately thought; ‘yep, that’s me’? A wonderful book-gifting friend bought me a new read for my birthday back in January.  I placed it on my bedside table and there it remained until recently, when it caught my eye – and as I began to turn the pages, it also caught my heart. In these last few years I’ve come to notice God’s beautiful timing more presently, rather than retrospectively…perhaps this is one of the kinder aspects of making my way through mid-life! In this season there’s been some space for me to get comfortable in this book, leafing through each small chapter, underlining all the places that make my heart warm or yearn or sing, or just resound agreeably with a solid ‘yes yes and amen’. Actually there’s been a lot of agreeable resounding – and with it has come a sense of both relief and comfort; the firm but gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is my advocate; reminding me of everything Jesus taught (John 14). He reminds me, again, that He knows me better than anyone. In Ephesians 1:17, Paul says: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” Isn’t that incredible?! Wisdom. Revelations. Not so that we would become better humans, better parents or better leaders. But just so that we would know Him better. In this world, I’m not always going to know how to, what to, when to, who to and all the to-do’s and the don’t-do’s and all of the rest. But it’s ok, because I can come to know better the one who always does; He’s the go-to. Phew!

Perhaps, similar to me, this might be a time of uncovering unfamiliar ways to continue to bring about God’s Kingdom and tell His story. Sometimes a season comes upon us and every-way-we-know-how-already just doesn’t do. But we journey that disoriented feeling best when we choose to take the get-to-know-him-better path. When we are walking his way we spend less time talking and more time listening. In His presence our pace is slower, steadier, and there’s space for creativity and some curious wondering too. Even here, in the new-found land, our disappointments and difficulties can be carefully decluttered – less like rummaging through a basket of debris from under the kitchen sink, hastily binning the broken parts; and more like discovering a box of hidden treasure that if carefully polished up, might be valuable stuff worth us holding onto.

So my fellow wanderer, deep breath. Remember: that same power that raised Jesus from the grave is the very same power that speaks quietly to you, during the drive home from work, the Asda trolley dash, that laborious waiting room; even in that book catching dust on your bedside table. He’s present with you. The faithful meaningful life can be found knowing Him better in the ordinary every-days as well as the extraordinary some-days. And through all of those, through you, God’s Kingdom will still come and God’s story will still be told.