I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was 16 years old and had the whole world in front of me….and no way to get out there. I had just gotten my license and I was overly ready to be on the open road.  I begged for my own car for months and submitted quite a few suggestions while informing my parents how it would benefit them as well.  I had dreams of a Camaro, Ferrari, Mustang, or some other sporty vehicle that I would look cool in.  I had these grandiose ideas of riding around, windows down, with the wind attempting to blow through my hair that I had sprayed with half a gallon of White Rain Hairspray (true story).  I still remember my Dad coming home and giving me the keys to my first vehicle.  My dreams were momentarily crushed as I realized it wasn’t the sports car I had hoped for.  What I had was a 1986 Buick Regal that needed a paint job and someone to reupholster the headliner as it was beginning to separate from its original glue job.  My disappointment only lasted for a few minutes until I realized it had wheels, it cranked, and had the ability to get me where I needed to go.  I drove that car like there was no tomorrow and had the speeding tickets and wrecks to prove it.  I could have handed the keys back to my Dad with a, “No, thank you,” response as the car didn’t live up to my desires.  Regardless of my original expectations, it still fulfilled the purpose for which it was intended.

Throughout the Bible we come across quite a few interesting stories.  For example, Moses and his encounter with the burning bush in the desert as expressed in Exodus 3.  A burning bush in the desert wasn’t an oddity as much as realizing the bush wasn’t being consumed.  Matthew 14 reminds us of the disciple’s moment of mistaken identity when they assume Jesus is Casper the friendly (or not-so-friendly) ghost walking on the water.  On many occasions we assume because God doesn’t come in the form or the way we expect, His presence isn’t as valid or important.  Humans attempt put things in a box.  We want to explain and quantify everything so it makes sense those around us [and to ourselves].  We serve a limitless God that can’t be bound by space and time.  If we’re looking for him to show up or move in only certain ways we will be highly disappointed and quite possibly miss out on the biggest blessing of our lives.  1 Kings 19 finds a weary Elijah running from Jezebel and dealing with what many today would term as a depression of sorts no doubt asking himself, “Where is God?”  He felt alone and needed reassurance that God was still with him.  Verses 11-13 states, “And he [God] said, go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle…”  God doesn’t always manifest His presence in obvious ways.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  What does your current situation look like?  I’m sure we all have desires to see things turn out a specific way.  I encourage us all today not to get so caught up in our preconceived expectations we miss the miracle of His appearance in even the smallest of ways.  If you’re expecting fanfare, you won’t get it.  If you’re expecting an audible announcement, you won’t get it.  Whether you see Him or not, I assure you He’s there and He’s working on your behalf.