Know God is near—walk into the thin space between earth and Heaven

By Dean Collins

‬‬‬‬There are moments when we discover the thin spaces, and I’m not talking about diet or eating habits. I’m speaking about the places where Heaven and earth collapse into each other, where we experience a glimpse of what will one day be full and rich and everything we could imagine in God’s presence. But often we seem to live in the thick of things where it is hard to see and hard to imagine how we get past this overwhelming problem or difficulty right in front of us.

I suspect we might discover more thin spaces if we were willing to take more steps in faith. It is hard to experience a divine moment while avoiding any effort to engage in the day-to-day opportunities of life and ministry. Moses found a thin space when he walked toward the burning bush. He experienced many more as he obediently faced Pharaoh and as he experienced the challenges and apparent dangers of the wilderness.

The storm and the struggle

Peter and the disciples found the thin space in the middle of a storm and after hours of struggle. It’s worth noting that the disciples also found danger because they did exactly what Jesus told them to do! Jesus stayed behind and alone with thousands just fed bread and fish in a desolate place. Matthew 14:22 tells us Jesus made the disciples get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake. He was fully capable of managing the crowds without them.

The disciples, however, found themselves in danger. A storm came up on the lake, and beaten by wind and lashed by waves, they were in a situation that was anything but hopeful. They were tired and terrified, but not only by a raging sea. I’m guessing they wondered if they would make it through the night.

We can identify with them. When we are in the middle of a difficult or dangerous situation, we often see, think, and feel the possibility that this is the end. There is no way forward. The obstacles are much too big.

The sea and the Savior

What they couldn’t see at first was that Jesus was walking toward them on the sea and in the storm. They cried out. (Sometimes even the strongest men scream.) Jesus answered. “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” I am not a professional Bible scholar or theologian, but this phrase sure looks and sounds a lot like the “I am” that Moses heard in Exodus. “I am” can bring not only holy terror but also thin spaces filled with peace and comfort.

Peter made what seems to be an unwise request: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Maybe it would have made more sense to say, “Lord, if it’s you, jump in the boat.” “Lord, if it’s you, stop this storm!” But what if we never know what could happen unless we ask him to lead us toward him, even in the apparent danger we see around us? Jesus said, “Come.”

Peter stepped out and started toward Jesus, but when he saw the waves still crashing and felt the wind still blowing, he panicked and called out to Jesus to save him. Jesus grabbed his hand and asked him why he doubted. And when the two of them stepped into the boat, the wind stopped. Then a boat full of grown men in unity worshiped and declared Jesus to be the Son of God. In worship we realize that God is much more than we are and that he alone is worthy.

Danger and the Divine

It was a thin space experience. But both the danger and the encounter with the Divine happened because the disciples rowed into the storm at the command of Jesus.

There will always be danger on this side of Heaven. Recently I was reminded again that every time we take bold steps of faith in kingdom work, the enemy will strike back and often from multiple directions. The enemy of God will always interrupt the things of God. Yet we know he does not have the final word. And as Moses and Peter discovered, God is present. “I am” is waiting to meet us in the danger. From our perspective the situation seems hopeless, but in the thin space anything is possible and everything can turn into a moment of worship where we realize God is much more than we are and that he alone is worthy.

Keep walking toward your calling, even in the storm. “I am” is waiting. Your thin space moment might just be today. God is in the business of calming storms and bringing peace.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:22-33; ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭89:8-9; ‬Exodus‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Geetanjal Khanna on Unsplash

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