Before attempting to address the primary question posed by this article, we want to make clear what we mean by the terms prove and God in this article. When we use the term prove, the applicable definition in Webster’s Dictionary is “to establish the validity or authenticity of. . . .” And, when we use the term God, we are referring specifically to God the Father in the Trinity of God worshipped by Christians.
We will now consider several excerpts from an article entitled “Like the Wind: No logical proof, yet we know God is there,” by James Martin, which appeared in the Winston-Salem Journal several years ago. In that article, Martin states,
Most atheists conclude that if there isn’t a logical proof for God, then God doesn’t exist. This strikes me as arrogant: It sets up human reason as the sole measure of existence. It says that if the human mind cannot comprehend something, it cannot exist. Yet lots of things that we can’t “prove” exist. Love, for instance.
The believer may never be able to use logic to prove that God exists. . . . Most believers know that it’s often best to begin with experience, and to let others see the effects of God’s existence.
It’s something like the wind. . . . You can’t see it, you can’t touch it, you can’t catch it, you can’t pin it down, but you can see what it does. And you know that it’s there.
We will focus primarily on Martin’s analogy involving the wind. Although we cannot see the wind itself, the wind can be felt, even when there is just a gentle breeze. And, when the wind is somewhat stronger, its effects can also be observed, such as the swaying of tree branches. Similarly, although God cannot be seen, His presence can be felt and the effects of His presence can be observed or otherwise experienced by people, as we will now discuss.
Few people throughout human existence have experienced any type of visible manifestation of God, with Moses probably being the most notable exception, but even he did not see God’s face. However, many people have stated that they have experienced a profound sense of God’s presence at certain times in their life, particularly when they were praying or worshipping Him. Although a number of these people may have had emotional experiences that caused them to think that they were experiencing God’s presence, there does not seem to be a valid basis for assuming that everyone, or even most of those who claim to have experienced a profound sense of God’s presence, just imagined His presence.
Furthermore, many trustworthy people give testimony that they have experienced miracles themselves or that they have witnessed miracles involving other people. A lot of these miracles have involved healing or protection from serious harm or even death. And, a number of these miracles cannot be satisfactorily explained apart from supernatural intervention,
In addition, a number of people, particularly Christians, can attest that there have been timely crucial occurrences that subsequently had a major positive effect on their life. Although when they occurred, at least some of these occurrences may not have seemed particularly significant or favorable with regard to the future of these people, the occurrences subsequently resulted in significant beneficial changes in the course of the lives of these people. It can be argued that these occurrences were just fortuitous, but recurrences of such incidents in the lives of many of these people seems to indicate otherwise.
[For a brief testimony by the author of this article as to his own personal experiences regarding God’s apparent protection and orchestration of life-changing experiences that subsequently resulted in major beneficial changes in the author’s life, see the Appendix that follows the Conclusion.]
Conclusion
During our life on the earth, we are not likely to actually see God in person or have incontrovertible proof that He exists, but God does reveal Himself to people in different ways, including various types of experiences which provide evidence that He exists. These experiences include a profound sense God’s presence, miraculous healing or protection from serious harm or even death, and timely crucial occurrences that greatly benefit the course of a person’s life.
[Note: There are a number of other types of evidence that provide additional – and probably stronger – proof of the existence of God. Several of these evidences are discussed in our article entitled “Evidence that God Exists,” which can be accessed by clicking on that title.]
Appendix
Relevant Testimony by the Author of This Article
I am both thankful and humbled by the incredible number of occasions on which God has shown His mercy and grace in protecting me from serious physical harm – even from death. There have been more than two dozen such occasions that I have been able to recall. Furthermore, I believe that there probably have been other such situations of which I have not become aware that could have resulted in dire consequences for me, if God had not intervened.
I don’t know why God has been so merciful and gracious to me. Many other people have faced circumstances similar to those that I have faced and they have been seriously injured or died because of those circumstances. Perhaps, God has kept me from serious harm so I could be involved in the various ministries to others in which I have been involved. Maybe, God has protected me so I would have more time to grow in my relationship with Him. Perhaps, He has guarded me so I can have additional opportunities to share with others my testimonies about Him. And, there may be one or more other reasons why God has protected me on so many occasions.
Furthermore, there have been other types of crucial occurrences that have resulted in major beneficial changes in the course of my life. I attribute most, if not all, of them to God’s intervention. As I reflect on three of the major decisions in my life – to trust in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation, to change occupations, and to move to Winston-Salem – I think about how crucial and timely the occurrences that gave me the opportunities to make those decisions.
It is my belief that the aforementioned crucial occurrences were necessary to enable me to accomplish objectives that God has wanted me to accomplish. Some people may regard these occurrences as merely fortuitous, but I believe that they are evidences that God’s love for me has been reflected in the ways He has guided my life.