Last week I was sitting in my car deciding if I was going to take a few minutes to meet with the Lord or run inside to start dinner and catch up on the show I missed the night before. For weeks I had chosen the comfortable route- refusing to yield to God. But that night I was drawn to him. I couldn’t not be near him with all the things running through my mind and the mess piling up in my heart. I realized that although I wanted to be with him, I didn’t want to be seen by him. I was hoping to tiptoe into his presence and hide in a dark corner.

I felt like the bleeding woman in Mark 5 who doesn’t want to draw attention to herself, but knows she needs Jesus. So she just touches the hem of his robes and is changed. For 12 years she struggled to find a cure and was straight up exhausted. I have been striving lately too. But unlike that woman trying to heal her body, I am attempting to heal my soul. Working hard to meet expectations, earn approval from people around me, and please God with all of my (un)holy busyness. I am tired too.

So I sneaked into the throne room of grace, prepared to find a nice dark corner.  Do you know what I remembered as I met with him? There is no hiding there. There are no dark corners. Every crack and crevice is bathed in the light of God’s love and grace. And in that light I am changed, because when you are seen by the One who loves you, your soul is altered.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

We can approach him today knowing that he will meet us because he is faithful and true. He is patient, waiting for us to come to him so he can show his love and compassion. You can tiptoe, limp, or stomp in, but be prepared to leave dancing, confident that the Holy One saw you and welcomed you.