“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:7-8
My son is nearly sixteen months old, and I still enjoy rocking him to sleep. He often squirms trying to get out of my lap so that he can go to the living room for a few extra minutes. Sometimes, he wins. I let him down, he runs away, and I have to go get him. But after a few moments of being silly (or just too plain tired to wrestle him) eventually he gives in and lets me rock him to sleep.
Tonight, as we were rocking, he reached up and started to touch my face. To be honest, some nights he touches kindly and some nights, he slaps me. He’s still learning boundaries and how to listen and obey and be gentle, but tonight was different.
He reached up and touched my mouth, and then softly ran his hand against my cheeks. He reached up higher and began to trace the lines of my eyes and down my nose. He was gentle. He was purposeful. He was sweet.
And so I turned my face toward him a little more, and I leaned in close. I let him walk his fingers across my face, getting to know me, finding comfort in my presence, all while telling me he loves me with his touch, and while I remind him he is loved by my gaze.
Friend? Jesus does the same thing with us. He doesn’t turn away from us. As we reach up to touch Him, He leans in closer. He wants us to encounter Him. He wants us to seek His face. He wants us to know Him, and He wants us to find our safety and peace as we trust that we hold His gaze.
You’re so loved, friend. He sees you in this moment. Let’s pray.
Lord, tonight we need to be reminded that you see us. Tonight we need to know that you want to be near us. Tune our hearts to the Holy Spirit as You share Your Love with us. Help us hear Your voice. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
