I’m sure you can think of times where God has specifically spoken to you, or shown up in some way in order to draw you further on in your journey with Him. These times stick in your memory, because they are significant and special. God Himself stepped into your world in a way that was unique to you, and you remember it.
An encounter with Jesus like no other
One ordinary day, the disciples had an encounter with Jesus like no other. God opened up the heavenly realm, which is outside of time and space. They saw Jesus as He really is, in glorious splendour, talking with Moses and Elijah. The disciples were standing in Galilee, yet they saw into heaven. And they had no idea what to do!
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36 (NIV)
A change of trajectory for the disciples
This encounter with the heavenly realm, the associated change in focus to Jesus’ death, burial and ascension, and the sudden voice of God saying, “This is my Son… listen to him,” would begin a new trajectory in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. They were about to leave their Galilean home and begin a journey to experience the horror of the cross and the glory of the resurrection. They would need to know how to navigate both of these events – because both were ordained by God, and both would be victorious and glorious.
2022 is going to be an amazing year. God is going to show up in ways that are going to surprise us. And sometimes we will find we have little frame of reference for His glory, and the things we are going to see Him do.
A change of trajectory for us
It’s just after the transfiguration that Jesus leaves his home territory of Galilee with His disciples, for his final journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). Like the disciples, God is beginning to change our trajectory. He is calling us to leave our “home territory” where we’ve been fairly comfortable, and to follow Him into new territory. To embark on new things. You’ve probably already felt the beginnings of the change through 2020 and 2021.
In order to appreciate the magnificence of God’s unfolding glory, and navigate the things that are to come, we are going to need to learn to see from a different perspective. And we’re going to have to listen to Jesus and follow Him closely, just as the disciples endeavoured to do on their journey with Jesus.
If you are still feeling rather battered by the experiences of 2020 and 2021 and not ready to face further change, bring these before God now and take time to work through any lingering grief, anger and anxiety. You might like to pray with a friend about how you are feeling, or seek guidance from someone you trust as to how to process what’s happened.
Why not give 2022 into God’s hands. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and to adjust your perspective where needed. Commit to following Jesus, no matter what eventuates.
