Even During Those “Blah” Days
Do you suffer from Blah days?
I have often wondered about those “in-between” years — the years in Bible heroes’ lives that passed by with little more than a single verse acknowledging that time had moved on. For instance, Adam was already 130 years old when Seth was born (Genesis 5:3). Joseph spent over two years in prison for a crime he did not commit (Genesis 40:23-41:1). Moses spent forty years shepherding sheep in Midian (Exodus 2:15; 3:1-4; Acts 7:29-31). What did these men do during these long spans of time? What did these men do on a normal day? How was their everyday life similar to ours today?
While the Bible does not go into detail about these “in-between” years, one can rest assured that part of their average day was spent building and strengthening their relationship to God. These men were employed by God used to accomplish great things, and literally changed the course of history—but these changes did not occur by mere happenstance. They were tools in the hand of God, put there “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:13-14). A quick examination of the great “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews chapter 11 reminds us that throughout many different centuries God utilized individuals to do His work. However, long before these individuals accomplished something special for God, most had already been cultivating a relationship with Him. These were righteous men—men after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) at all times, even during those “ blah ” days.
Whether they were shepherding sheep, lying in jail, or leading a chosen people across the Red Sea, these individuals never neglected their own personal relationship with Almighty God. What about us today? In a world in which we have drive-through windows for food, instant digital pictures, high-speed internet, and 24 hour online banking, do we ever slow down enough to focus on our relationship to Jehovah God? Can we honestly stand before the throne of God knowing we have been “still, and know[n]” He is God (Psalm 46:10). If you were to stop and rate the closeness of your relationship to God on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the closest possible), what number would you select? Now think again, God hasn’t moved in your relationship with Him. God’s position in your relationship to Him does not change. The Bible tells us that God loves us (John 3:16) and He desires all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4). He is always there for us. But are we always there for Him? Do we honestly spend time—even on those blah days—cultivating our relationship with Him, so that when He decides to make use of us for great things, we are there ready to get the job done?
One of the key factors in building a healthy relationship is getting to know the other person—and more than just superficial trivia. This means comprehending the full portrait of God. Have you painted a portrait of God in your home that only includes a loving, grandfatherly Being who is full of grace? Or have you incorporated into your portrait the jealousy, wrath, power, righteousness, mercy, judgment, and holiness of God? Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” To really form a relationship with our eternal Creator we must first learn what we can about Him. The only place to do this is in His inspired Word. It can’t be done through listening to sermons alone, or even reading Think magazine! We must study and meditate on His Word.
Second, relationships must involve communication. Our method of communicating with God is through prayer—utilizing Jesus as our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Consider how deep your relationship is to God if the only time you communicate with Him is to pray for your food at mealtime. If this description sounds familiar, you need to understand you have a very shallow and fragile relationship with God—one likely to suffer during times of trouble or during those blah periods of life. Likewise, God communicates back to us through His Word. If we neglect daily reading of the Bible, then our relationship will not be as strong as it can be. How can we know Him if we don’t know His Word. Far too many Christians today are relying on the biblical knowledge of their preachers and leaders—an eerie step towards the days when Roman Catholics were told that only the priests could understand the Bible. Finally, our relationship must be visible through our actions. It’s often been said: “Don’t tell me you love me, show me.” The same can be said for our relationship with God (John 14:21; 1 John 2:5). Our declaration of a love for God is empty unless our lives accurately reflect that love.
Most tombstones have the year people were born and the year they died. These dates are commonly separated by a hyphen—the “in between” years. As you evaluate your own “in-between” years, I hope that today you will take some time and reflect on your personal relationship to God. He’s there for you—and one day you will meet Him, face-to-face. Will that meeting be the reunion of two close friends—or merely, two casual acquaintances?