Seeking me is not in vain!

“I have not spoken in secret,In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob,‘ Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” Isaiah 45.19

The sentence highlighted here carries the whole weight of God’s character. God is saying that the invitation to come to him is never pointless. He does not gather people to himself only to disappoint them. He never asks you to pray only to forget you prayed. Every step toward him matters. 

When you open the pages of the scripture you see examples of men and women who walked closely with God. Their stories give shape to what intimacy with God looks like and what it brings. 

We begin with Abraham. James says he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. That is not a title printed on a certificate. It is a living relationship built on trust. Genesis shows Abraham speaking with God, questioning him about Sodom, walking with him in covenant, and obeying even when he could not see the outcome. Friendship is formed where faith is lived. Therefore, your faith, like Abraham’s, must be tested by how you live it!

Then there is Moses. Exodus 33 says the Lord spoke with Moses face to face as a man speaks with a friend. Moses did not only receive commandments. He entered the tent. He waited in silence. He asked God to show him his ways and then went further and prayed, “Show me your glory.” Moses teaches us that friendship deepens when we seek God himself, not only what God gives. 

David teaches the emotional honesty of friendship. His psalms give voice to longing, joy, and sorrow. “One thing I ask, to dwell in the house of the Lord.” David refused a distant relationship. He brought his questions and tears to God. Real friendship holds nothing back.

Job reminds us that there are seasons when that closeness feels far away. He remembers a time when the friendship of God was on his tent. His story teaches us that intimacy is precious enough to fight for when life is painful. 

Jesus completes the picture. In John 15 he says to his disciples that he no longer calls them servants because he has shared with them what he received from the Father. Friendship with God is not about equality. It is about nearness, revelation, and shared purpose. 

When you set these lives side by side a pattern becomes clear. Intimacy with God never happens casually. It is built through trust like Abraham, hunger like Moses, honesty like David, perseverance like Job, and obedience like the disciples.

At this point you may ask, if that is what intimacy is, then why does it matter. Psalm 25 says the Lord confides in those who fear him. Friendship means God draws you into his counsel. Abraham was shown what God was about to do. There is peace when you know he is not leaving you to guess what he is doing in your life.

There is boldness in prayer. Moses stood between God and Israel and interceded. Friendship teaches you to run to God instead of shrinking away from him. When prayer becomes the place you breathe, it stops feeling like a duty and becomes a friendship meeting place. 
There is identity and belonging. When Jesus said “I call you friends,” he gave his followers a place in the heart of God. Many serve God yet never believe he enjoys them. Friendship answers that hidden ache. 

There is transformation. Friends shape each other. When you sit with God you start thinking as he thinks, choosing as he chooses, loving as he loves. Change is not just requested. It grows. 
Then there is guidance. David often found direction not from signs alone but from time spent in the presence of God. Friendship positions you to hear the quiet leading of his voice. 

Now return to Isaiah’s word. “I did not say to Jacob, seek me in vain.” This is God saying that the path of intimacy is not wasted. Jacob lay under a sky with a stone for a pillow, yet God marked him and brought him back changed. Hannah prayed with tears until a son was born. The disciples fished through the night only to meet Jesus on the shore. None of those moments were in vain though they felt empty at first. 

So the question for this first Sunday is simple. Are you living toward God at a distance or leaning into the friendship he offers. Where have you quietly wondered if your obedience has been unnoticed. Where have you feared that your prayers have gone unanswered. Where do you feel as though you have served without a harvest. 

Hear the character of the God you serve. He did not ask you to seek him in vain. He welcomes those who draw near. He rewards those who trust. He reveals himself to those who wait in the quiet place. 

Make a decision today to come close. Speak honestly. Sit long enough to be changed. Create space for God this week that you would only give to a friend. Ask him to make his voice familiar again. Intimacy with God is not earned. It is answered. 

Abraham rescued his nephew because of his friendship with God; he became a blessing to the whole earth (Genesis 14:14-20). Moses saved the Israelites from God’s anger (Exodus 32:11-14). Hidden things are disclosed to those who love the Lord; he actually changes all things to work for their good (Romans 8:28).
In Hebrews 6:10, God said he is not a man that will forget our labour of love towards him and his kingdom. He will hold no one’s reward back. He diligently rewards them. Make a resolute decision today, like Josuah, you may choose any other gods, but as for me and my household we will serve the Lord.

Intimacy with God is like planting seeds—you enjoy small fruits quickly, but the full harvest comes gradually, sometimes years or decades later. The deeper the friendship, the greater the long-term reward. You may ask Psalm 89:3-4 – God swore to David:”I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’” what did David do before God sworn? God’s oath wasn’t a response to a single action, like a ritual or a sacrifice. It was a confirmation of His promise because David had already proven himself a faithful servant and had a heart that sought God continually.

In Genesis 22:16-17, after Abraham showed willingness to obey by offering Isaac. God said,:”I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky…”

Ruth showed loyalty to Naomi and trusted God’s providence in a foreign land.Long-term reward: God placed her in the lineage of David and ultimately in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, showing how faithfulness in small, everyday choices produces eternal significance. Hebrews 10:35-36 says, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Kay Alli