How are we helped by knowing that God understands us?
Our High Priest is easily touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because he was tested in every area just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, we can boldly approach God with our needs, receiving mercy and unmerited favor. — Hebrews 4:15–16 The Discussion Bible
Some meetings require planning. We schedule appointments with doctors, clients, or friends. Other meetings happen by surprise, when paths cross at just the right time. Both kinds of meetings can be significant, and both can be orchestrated by God (Proverbs 16:9).
Think of how often Jesus met people unexpectedly—Zacchaeus in the tree, the woman at the well, or the blind man calling from the roadside. None of those people had an “appointment,” yet God arranged the moment. In the same way, we can experience both planned prayer times and unplanned nudges of God’s presence.
An Appointment
With human beings, access may depend on their schedule, mood, or willingness to see us. Parents are not always available for their children, although ideally, they would be. But with God, the situation is different. No appointment is necessary.
God’s throne is always accessible. He is never too busy, never distracted, and never uninterested.
The Ongoing Meeting
The apostle Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). At first glance, that sounds impossible. Who can spend every moment in prayer? But Paul is talking about a mindset, a way of life, a continual awareness of God’s presence where we can have ongoing conversation with him—all the time.
Like walking with a trusted friend, you don’t need to talk every second, but you are always aware of his presence. This transforms prayer from a ritual into a relationship.
Imaginary Meetings
We can convince ourselves that we are meeting with God, when in reality, we are only engaging with religious substitutes. People can bow before idols of wood or stone, convinced they are connecting with divine knowledge and power, when in fact, they are only interacting with lifeless objects (Isaiah 44:9–20).
Even in church, we can mistake the ritual for the reality. Singing songs, hearing sermons, or reciting prayers may soothe the conscience, yet leave the heart untouched. We easily sing worship songs without giving much thought to the words. Like being in a crowded room while ignoring the person sitting right beside us, we can miss God’s presence, even when he is as close as the breath we breathe.
Moving the Right Direction
When Israel stood at Mount Sinai, the people were afraid to meet with God directly. They asked Moses to intercede for them (Exodus 20:18–21). The result was distance—and spiritual disaster. Left to themselves, they quickly turned to idols.
The same principle applies today. If we shrink back from God’s presence, we are left with our own wisdom and strength, which inevitably fail. But if we keep moving toward God, even trembling, we are changed from glory to glory.
Desire: The Door to Meeting
The heart of the matter is desire. Do we really want to meet with God? If so, we will pursue him continually. The difficulty is that God also knocks on our door (Revelation 3:20), and too often we fail to answer. The busyness of life gets in the way. Other priorities crowd him out. Yet the miracle of the Gospel is that God is present with us—at work, at home, in the grocery store … everywhere.
The meeting is always possible if the desire is real.
An Eternal Relationship
One encounter with God may change us, but it will not carry us forever, unless we remain dependent on him. Even John the baptizer, who once declared Jesus as the Lamb of God, later doubted when he was in prison (Matthew 11:2–3). Our relationship must be nurtured daily, not based solely on a past experience.
The wonder is in knowing God has no end. Throughout eternity, we will grow deeper and deeper in our understanding of him. The apostle Paul says, “God’s knowledge and wisdom is far greater than what we can see and measure. His judgments are beyond what we can explain. His methods are too complicated for us to figure out” (Romans 11:33). For all eternity, we can experience more and more of God.
Think of standing by the ocean. No matter how much water you drink, you can never drain it dry. So it is with God. There is always more to know, more to love, more to experience.
The Miracle of Access
The greatest miracle is that our infinite God made himself approachable through Jesus Christ. He bridged the unimaginable gap between our sinfulness and his holiness. This is like the difference between the most worthless trash and the greatest of all treasures, but we as trash get to become a treasure in his sight, radiating his glory.
God didn’t just allow us into his presence. He invited us to be a part of his family. Every meeting with God is possible, only because Jesus opened the way.
Meeting with God is not a matter of scheduling. It requires desire, openness, and honesty. We are encouraged to keep knocking, even as he knocks on our hearts. The Creator of the Universe wants to meet with us. Not once. Not occasionally. But forever.
Pay attention, because I’m standing at your door, knocking. If you will hear my voice and open the door, I will come in. Then we can enjoy dinner together, you and me. — Revelation 3:20 The Discussion Bible
Meet-Up
We schedule our meetings. We circle the date.
With our notebooks handy, we hurry up and wait.
But God doesn’t need us to knock on his door.
He’s ready to listen, forever and ever more.
Some think they must whisper a prayer in a pew,
Or follow a ritual that is something we can do.
But God isn’t trapped in a building of stone.
He walks with his children, so we’re never alone.
Like friends who greet you with joy when you call,
Our Father is waiting. We’re no trouble at all.
No calendar is needed, no ticket, no line.
His throne room is open—forever divine.
We can miss his presence, not knowing he’s there,
Distracted by obsessions or burdened with care.
Like Israel trembling before God and keeping away,
They lost what was offered on that marvelous day.
When we move closer to him, his love will draw near.
He makes his presence known, his comfort made clear.
Through thunder or whispers, silence or song,
His Spirit reminds us … we’ve been his all along.
Just one meeting won’t last for all our days.
We need him every moment for all our ways.
So seek him and find him and never pretend,
For knowing our Savior will have no end.
Through Jesus our access is wondrous and true.
The God of all Heaven says, “I’ll walk with you.”
So knock on his doorway, and answer his call,
For meetings with Jesus are the best of them all.
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