Where do I find God?

A lot of my agnostic/atheist friends has asked me this question and I answer them with this: where you are broken. In another words, if you don’t think you need to find Him, you won’t find him. In fact, I tell ask this to my christian friends, too: Do you need God? For what? Why?

Why is this important? This shows your heart, your intention, and your motivation. Are we seeking to find God in the world for the sake of evidence? For the sake of theological discussions? For the sake of great coffee shop discussions? For the sake of building a case for your belief? For the sake of curiosity? 

Or do you want to find God because you have tried everything else to deliver you from the present and were left emptier than before. Or do you want to find God because you are going through unbearable pain of rejection and misunderstanding from everyone else around you. Or do you want to find God because you feel purposeless and hopeless in your head, body, and mind. Or do you want to find God because you now know that you were born alone and you will die alone. Or do you want to find God because you see the world as a sick cycle prone to burn out in the near/far future. 

Is God the determinant of life and death? Are you willing to believe when you see God? Are you willing to take side with confidence instead of staying “neutral”? Are you willing to be labeled and hated for the truth if it is revealed to you? Are you willing to have hope even if the promise seems bleak?

If you aren’t, you won’t find God. You won’t find God in religious life style. You won’t find God in church. You won’t find God by hanging out with the right crowd. You won’t find God by being “spiritual.” You won’t find God by doing certain things. You won’t find God by believing in certain things. 

You find God when you commit to the quest for the truth.

You find God when you are honest about your brokenness and helplessness.

You find God when you are desperate for hope.