“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” (2 kings 22:11)

Dear PVUMC Family,

I am Pastor Sophia.

Have you ever cleaned out a closet and found something important—family photos, a favorite book, or even some cash you completely forgot you had? You are so happy to find them, but you wonder, “When—and why—did I put this in the closet?”

In 2 Kings 22, something similar, but much more remarkable, happens in the house of God. During the temple repairs, the Book of the Law was found. It had been there all along, but somehow, God’s Word had been forgotten. When King Josiah heard it, he realized that God was speaking to him and to the people once again.

I love this story because it reminds us that God may be closer than we think.

Josiah did not have to travel to find God. He found God’s Word right in the temple. It had been there all along. The problem was not that God was absent. The problem was that God’s people had stopped paying attention.

If we are honest, we can sometimes do the same thing.

We may ask, “Where is God?” while God is quietly saying, “I’m right here!”

God can meet us in Scripture, worship, walking a trail, a conversation, or even an ordinary long day. Sometimes God speaks through something we have heard many times before—but suddenly, it touches our hearts in a new way.

That is the amazing power of God’s Word. It is not just something we read; it is something that can read us.

God’s Word can challenge our minds, soften our hearts, renew our spirits, and show us where we need to turn around, restart, or rebuild.

Josiah did not hear God’s Word and say, “That was interesting. Maybe we should talk about it sometime.” He responded! He allowed God’s Word to change him and lead the people in a new direction.

God is inviting us to do the same.

As we come to worship, God expects us to meet us.

God speaks to us what we need to hear today. It may encourage us, challenge us, comfort us, make us laugh, or make us rethink something we thought we understood.

So, Church, God is everywhere—in our church, our homes, our community, and ordinary moments. Let us look for God everywhere. Let us not ignore God’s word.

May God’s Word transform our minds, renew our hearts, and awaken our spirits, so that we can continue to rebuild our lives and our church according to God’s purpose.

I cannot wait to worship with you!

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess