What does God look like? | Alireza Panahian

What does God look like?

“Have you seen God?” Who likes to see God, sense Him, and live with Him? Where is God so that I can see Him, find Him, smell Him, and fall in love with Him? No one says to believe in a God Who can’t be seen. No one says to fall in love with a God Who can’t be seen. Is it possible to fall in love with such a God? What should I love? Whoever wants to see God, he can only see Him in one situation. Look at God as the examiner in your life.

There is no need for you to see an object or imagine Him in your imagination. Just pay attention to this fact that God is testing you. As soon as a problem occurs, ask God, “God, is it a test?” Talk to Him! He is talking to you through the language of testing. I swear to God you’ll understand His behaviour. You’ll understand His smiling and frowning. You will understand His pouting and reconciliation. You’ll understand from which of your actions He has become happy. You’ll understand why He loves you. You’ll understand how much He loves you. Then, when you start praying, you’ll understand to Whom you are talking! There is Someone in front of you!

God says, “You don’t need to see Me. I work with you. Understand that whatever happens to you from morning until night is Me talking to you in the language of incidents.” As soon as someone is kind to you, say, “God, You wanted someone to be kind to me?”

If you look, you’ll understand the reason. In the beginning you won’t. You’ll say, “God, You wanted someone to be kind to me? Why? I don’t understand. But You tested me!” When someone frowns at you, say, “God, You wanted someone to frown at me? Had I become rude? Was I arrogant?” He’ll easily talk to you. He’ll talk to you even better than your friends do. He’ll become your companion. You’ll start loving Him.

Actually, I didn’t ask you a question. And, you didn’t say anything about it. I don’t know how I’m talking, or I should say who I’m talking to. My friends, answer a question. Do you believe that each incident, which happens around us from morning until night, is accidental? Yes? Please, everyone answer. Does everyone say no? Is it accidental? Were they all designed by God? “Yes!” All of them? Do you believe that? Why were they designed? To have fun? For us to circle around ourselves? Are all of them tests, or not? “Yes!” What good answers you give!

Now, another question. Do we look at all of the incidents, which happen from morning until night, as tests? Good! May I be sacrificed for you. You’re seeing it yourself. Then he says, “Sir, what should I do to pay attention to God in praying?” “My dear, you can’t pay attention to God.”

He says, “I’m constantly distracted.” Have you ever seen God? Have you lived with Him for even two days? They have even stated the number in the traditions. If you live like this for forty days, everything around you will talk to you. The ground and the sky will talk to you!

Living with God means that you understand the language of God’s tests. Look what He wants from you at each moment. Look! What does He want from you now? He brings up an incident. Suddenly your wife gets upset and grumbles. Look at God and ask, “Is my capacity supposed to be tested?” Your friend invites you to sin. Look at God, “God, is it a test? I can’t tolerate it.” Cry right then. Say, “God, I swear to Husayn (‘a) I can’t tolerate it. Don’t send these friends. Send other friends. Send friends who take me to Medina and Karbala.” Say this a few times. The next week one of your friends will come and tell you, “I’m going to Karbala. Will you come with me?” Look at God and say, “God, how quickly You hear me!”

Have you ever seen God? Have you lived with Him for two days? They have even stated the number in the traditions. If you live like this for forty days, everything around you will talk to you. The ground and the sky will talk to you!