God Showed Up Journal Story
The God Showed Up Journal idea got started in 2008. My men’s small group leader recommended to the guys in our group that we write down the moments we thought God showed up in our lives. He recommended it so that I, and the rest of the guys in my group, would be able to look back in good times or challenging times, to remember how God works in our life. What wise advice! And going back and reading my entries has strengthened my faith in God, especially at times when my faith is being tested– when I was having doubts.
As I journaled over the years, though, I realized what I had written down was scattered on different pages, and they were hard to find. I wanted them all in one place.
I created this journal to solve that problem, and was sure that others would want one, too. This journal is as a reminder that He is always working for our good. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NASB
“This journal is a reminder that He is always working for our good.”
— Small Group Leader (2008)
The irony of the journal title is God is never absent. He is ever-present, so he doesn’t “show up”, but that’s how it seems sometimes. Sometimes we may be moving too fast to be aware of Him. Just like any relationship, it’s a two way street. There are some things we can do to stay connected.
Connecting With God
Here are a few ways to stay connected to God.
- Spend time with Him
- Listen to Him (yes, prayer includes listening)
- Talk to Him
- Worship Him
- Read His Word
- Meditate on his Word
- Connect with and love others
- Connect with Him in your inner being (see below)
Connect with God in Your Inner Being
If connecting with God in your inner being seems foreign to you, then welcome to the club. It was for me, too, up until a few months ago. I knew in my mind He lived inside me, but had I experienced it?
If you’re interested in how to connect with Him in your inner being, keep reading. I was in a men’s group that did a study on Resilience, a book by John Eldredge, in 2023. In Chapter 9, John walks you through how to connect with God in your inmost being. I tried it even though it seemed like a stretch for where my faith was. Turns out it was an amazing experience. I felt an amazing sense of peace, and since then it has grown my faith in what God can do in me, and likely through me.
I highly recommend looking at John Eldredge’s Resilient Experience and buying a copy of his book. As of the date I’m writing this, I still have the pages in Chapter 9 that walk you through the process lying open on my floor, next to my reading chair.