Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
Ps 66:5
Have you ever felt like you unknowingly distanced yourself from God? I know God exists, but God starts to feel less and less relevant as the pressures of urban life catch up with me and I am whisked away by the whims of the world. With deadlines of work looming and responsibilities catching up, suddenly I find that I’m not so close to God anymore.
In Psalm 66, the psalmist shares his experience of God with us. After declaring God’s praise, the psalmist invites us to “[c]ome and see” (Ps 66:5). The word “come” requires movement and closing the distance. The first step we can take is to draw closer to God by leaving what is comfortable and familiar to us, just as God told Abraham, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1). Only when we are able to step out of where we are right now will we be able to “see” God’s works.
The psalmist then invites us to “see.” In Psalm 66:6-7, the psalmist tells the Israelites to “see” that God has brought them out of Egypt by turning sea into dry land, and reminds the Israelites of the great and miraculous works God has done. Though they were not physically there to witness what happened generations before, the psalmist is asking them to think about what God has done for them, and really consider who God is through His works. After moving closer to God, we can ponder about what God has done for us in our lives.
Once the psalmist has considered what God has done, he understands God’s intentions to refine us through suffering. He responds to God by offering burnt offerings. Psalm 66 ends with a declaration of his personal relationship with God, and he blesses God saying,
Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!
Similarly, once we make the first step to “come and see,” our perspectives start to change as we focus on God and understand Him better. Perhaps it means stepping away from the computer or phone and picking up the journal where we have penned down God’s grace towards us, and reflecting on what God has done. As we remember what God has done and the lessons and experiences He has brought us through, God turns from an impersonal God to a more personal one. The closeness of God will give us the strength from knowing He loves and cares for us to tackle life’s daily challenges.
A personal relationship starts with moving towards God. Are we willing to put aside our worries and cares and listen to the invitation to “come and see”—to remember what God has done for us and get to know Him?
This is a beautiful reminder to draw closer to God and think about what God has done for us. I’ve definitely experienced how when I’m too caught up with work or my own things, I don’t feel very close to God. It’s only after I step out of the bubble I’ve isolated myself in and refocus on God/His awesome works that I’m able to recharge and give thanks to God while going through challenges.