"Patches Of Godlight"

We – or at least I – shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest. At best, our faith and reason will tell us that He is adorable, but we shall not have found Him so, not have “tasted and seen.” Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun, which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are “patches of godlight” in the woods of experience. (C.S. Lewis)

It is so vitally important that we “taste and see that the Lord is good”, for ourselves. This quote reminds us that we must have our own personal experience of God’s goodness, closeness, presence etc.

A few weeks ago I had an experience that was a real “patch of godlight” in my life. I had been living through a somewhat troubling situation that seemed to have no answer and I had been praying about this trouble for sometime, but I felt no particular breakthrough concerning it. So, as I lay in bed one night feeling worried about this whole situation, I decided to get out of my comfy bed, and really seek God. I walked out to the living room about midnight and sat down on the couch with my Bible and my journal. About ten minutes into this prayer time I felt the most wonderful peace come over me. One scripture after another came to mind and when I turned to them, such understanding came! I wrote as fast as I could and it was as if a dam broke, releasing God’s wisdom regarding my problem directly into my mind. I sat out there for over an hour just lost in the joy of the moment. Things that had been baffling only an hour before now made perfect sense. I went back to sleep that night, assured of God’s goodness and direction regarding my trouble. And even though I hadn’t seen the answers manifested in my life yet – I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He was in control and working it all out.

I would love to say that I have those kinds of experiences everyday, but I’d be lying. I certainly don’t, but from time to time, in the midst of the woods of experience, I have seen “patches of godlight.”

And I am convinced that all of us must have a few of our own, personal “patches of godlight” experiences, or we will find ourselves bankrupt when trials come our way. For me, it’s the memory of those times when God came through for me, that so often get me through my present troubles. I literally rehearse all the times that God has made himself known to me, and I remind myself of how he has supernaturally revealed his presence and will to me many times in the past.

The crux of this is that we must be willing to worship and seek God for ourselves, thereby guaranteeing that we will have our own “godlight” experiences with him. They will become markers on the road of our lives, a constant reminder of God’s beauty and faithfulness. But just like the quote above says we “shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest.” True intimacy with Christ is found when we make the choice to worship and adore him in the midst of our sorrows and troubles. Our relationship with God will deepen and flourish when we place our focus on his greatness even when we’re hurting. And when we’re facing pain, sickness, rejection or death, the greatest peace is found when we make a determined effort to worship God in spite of our pain.

I encourage you to test God in this, and invite him into any trouble you may be facing today. There is nothing to difficult for him! And while you’re seeking him about any given situation, you’ll soon see, in the woods of experience “patches of godlight” will appear.

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Paula Friedrichsen is a conference speaker and the author of "The Man You Always Wanted is The One You Already Have" (Multnomah 2007). She lives with her husband and daughter in Northern California.
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