And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

While soaking with a couple of friends last week, I saw the image of a glorious yellow flower with large petals like a tulip. Its stamens were laden with an abundance of pollen. A small bee began buzzing around its centre trying to gain a foothold. As the bee clumsily buzzed in and out and back and forth a few times seeking a secure footing, it became enrobed with the gold dust of the flower’s pollen.

Although the bee never managed to actually land on the flower it still succeeded in picking up loads of pollen on the hairs of its head, antennae, body and legs. And as it flew off, perhaps in defeat, it also succeeded in its mission of distributing the pollen to other flowers along its way – and far out into the world beyond the reach of the yellow flower.

The flower and the bee were a prophetic image of myself and my friends. Like the bee struggling to land on the flower, we were trying to establish a foothold in the presence of God; to draw as close as we could to Him. Sometimes we can make soaking {which should be simple and easy: resting in the presence of God) difficult as we strive to draw near to God.

But God was showing me that even in our striving – and even if we feel like we’ve failed to gain a foothold in His presence – we become bathed in His glory as we seek Him. And then, like the little bee, when we leave and go back out into the world we carry His glory on us, broadcasting it to everyone we come in contact with whether or not they – or we – realize it.

Like Moses – who had to put a veil over his face after being in the presence of God because the radiant glow he carried was so bright it frightened people – we too carry a noticeable radiance after spending time in His presence. I have seen this glorious radiance on the faces of people who pray regularly and spend time in God’s presence. I used to call it a “grace face” because I didn’t know what it was at first but I sensed that these godly people carried a measure of grace beyond what I saw on other people in church.

I thank God for showing me that I don’t need to strive or to feel like I’ve failed if I can’t establish myself in His presence when I seek to draw near Him. Whether or not I feel like I have succeeded, God can use me and my efforts to establish His Kingdom on earth – as I go. I just need to bee myself and to draw near to Him.

“Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim (disciples), immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the (Holy Spirit).”

Matthew 28:19 CJB