A Knowable God

An agnostic might say, "Prove to me that God exists, and I will believe in Him." If that describes your own feeling about God, I'd like to share a few ideas with you.

I respect your desire to have proof of the existence of God. And people like myself feel they have it almost every day.

The physical senses are often what individuals use to find proof. But these senses don't and can't speak to us of God. We can't touch or see Him. God is knowable through spiritual sense, which we all have-through the discernment of good in our hearts.

I can't see or feel radio waves, but when I listen to the radio I accept that they exist. Similarly, I know God exists because I feel Him with me every day. Throughout years of learning more about God from the teachings of Christian Science, I have had proof of His guidance and healing power. You can too.

One insight into God that enables me to understand more of His nature is from a book by Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science. The book defines God as "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." That is found on page 587 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Often I've begun my day by quietly thinking over what it means. I find that as I am open moment by moment to God's guidance, I know what I need to know, and feel loved and comforted. Guided by His intelligence, I have often been led to make decisions that have blessed me and those I'm thinking of.

We had a very severe storm one night, and lightning was striking very close to our home over a prolonged period. Heavy rain and winds prompted me to get up and go onto our covered porch to bring hanging baskets and plants under cover. Suddenly, it was as if someone were saying clearly to me, "This is not a safe place to be." I've learned to be obedient to what I perceive as divine direction, and I immediately stopped and went inside. Only moments later, I heard a tremendous lightning bolt strike and simultaneously saw what appeared as a ball of light on the porch. This was immediately followed by a loud popping sound. The lights went out. The next morning I discovered that a rock that had been on the porch had burst into two pieces, and in the center was a core of what appeared to be iron. A physics teacher I spoke with felt that the bolt had been attracted to the rock, and that my retreat had unquestionably saved my life.

Experiences such as these have proved to be typical examples of God's care. My husband and I have five children, and over and over again we have felt God's love guiding and sustaining us in raising our family.

The consistency of divine guidance has shown itself to be more than human intuition. Rather, it is natural, spiritual sense that comes to us-and stays with us-as we cultivate an understanding of God, who is divine Love, governing His creation with His law of good. A spiritual sense of God's goodness and love engenders a closeness, a satisfying intimacy with God, that you can feel. Knowing God is as natural and as necessary for us as the air we breathe.

Don't let skepticism and disbelief keep you from knowing your God, and from feeling His presence with you. His love and His supply of good satisfy as nothing else ever can.

The founder of Christianity, Christ Jesus, may have been especially speaking to your heart when he said long ago, according to the book of John: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (16:24). If you ask God to make Himself known to you, you will find that He is as close and knowable to you as He is to me.

If someone stayed shut up in a dark room, he might know nothing of budding flowers and chirping birds nearby. Through learning of God, you can open the windows and doors of your thought. God already knows you; He created you in His image and likeness. Spend some time in quiet listening and prayer. Ask to feel His presence in your life. His guidance will come to your expectant thought. Your heart can leap with joy at the reality of your God.