Reverence

This post is by Jen Shultz.

I grew up attending the only Catholic church in a very small town that happens to be located right smack in the Bible Belt. My humble church home had approximately twenty families, priests that rotated from larger parishes in larger towns, and folding chairs. My first glimpse of what most people thought of when I said I went to Mass happened at a wedding and then again at a funeral when I was very young. Interestingly enough, in those beautiful churches with their stained glass and ornate altars, the same structure that I had grown up with was present. What Mass meant to me had little to do with the building it was housed in and everything to do with the building that was being done inside me. In today’s world, there are so many different ways to worship and pray that finding a place where you truly feel engaged with God should be easy, right? 

I say that a bit facetiously because I have a faith base and a strong call to be near God and I get overwhelmed. I think options are great, truly, but how does someone narrow down the almost endless opportunities? Historically, since the inception of religion or belief systems, people have rarely been satisfied. There are as many reasons to stray as there are to stay for these buildings, flashy lights, great coffee, or solid study groups. The external manifestation of the internal work being done is great, but it cannot be the heart of the matter. In fact, the heart is what truly matters. Our posturing internally towards reverence is what divides religion from a relationship and where we truly come into a space of worship. 

What that worship looks like will be different for each of us, but finding that space within is such a sweet spot. We were made to worship God. We were made to hide His word deep in our hearts. We were made to seek Him in every situation. We NEED God. If this world has shown me nothing else, it is just how desperately I need to run to Him- over and over and over. When I say that, I do not mean it in a once a decade or even once a year kind of way. I seek that reverent relationship many times each day in prayer. I find those conversations happen out loud, in my head, with groans and tears, and in song. I might be kneeling at my bedside like one sees in pictures, but more often than not I am standing at my kitchen sink, driving, or drifting off to sleep. There is no set place or time for worship or prayer, but I do set aside time each day specifically for that. Thankfully, that is not the only place or time I find God in my days.

I wish there was a map I could draw that would lead you directly to the place where you are known. It is a place where your soul sings and every step is light. It is a place of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. It is a place where purpose is found and worldly pressures are lost. I cannot do that, but I have great news- God has already drawn that map for you (Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that you find that place of reverence, friend, and that the posture of your heart is forever changed.

Jen is a small town, Oklahoma girl married to a superhero. She is a firm believer in grace, organization, and efficiency. She finds great satisfaction in taking broken items and giving them new life, likely because that is exactly what God did for her. Jen calls her family her greatest accomplishment and is loving watching it grow generationally. A natural born encourager and armchair warrior, she is learning to redefine her mission field and make the most of each day she is given. She has recently been promoted from breast cancer warrior to breast cancer survivor. She’s chronically ill and chronically positive—not necessarily in that order. She is learning to practice perseverance over perfection and longs for the day she gets to see her grandparents and Jesus’ face. Until then, she is just looking for Grace in the Grind.

Photo by Serge Taeymans on Unsplash