Recently, the world lost a very faithful steward of God—Phil Robertson. Whether you are a fan of duck hunting or the hit A&E television show Duck Dynasty, or you just live in the U.S. and have seen giant cardboard cutouts of bearded men donning camo at your local Walmart, you’ve probably heard of him.

Phil Robertson, known as Duck Commander to many around his hometown and in the world, lived a life so full of faith in God that he couldn’t hardly be another way.

Through the 2023 film The Blind, the world got a glimpse of Phil’s life before faith and fame. He was lost, addicted to alcohol, angry, and seemed to ruin his marriage with chaos and infidelity…but God.

A key quote in the film is “You’ve got to come to the end of yourself to find the beginning of God.”

Twenty-eight year-old Phil Robertson met God at the end of himself—when there was nothing left to live for and he no longer cared for himself or anyone else. He was empty, and at that place he could be filled…with God.

What I know—and what others who were praying for Phil all those years ago knew—is the man the world grew to know and love always lived in him. The generous, kind, loving, down-to-earth outdoorsmen and neighbor we saw on the television screen simply needed to see himself the way God had all along.

So, I’m not convinced we have to empty ourselves of everything valuable to find God. I’m not convinced we need to come to the end of ourselves or even hit rock bottom.

I think we merely need to see God, and in seeing Him, we will see ourselves clearly.

Seeing God

In Exodus 34, Moses ascends Mount Sinai to meet with God, and when he returns, his face shines with divine radiance. Scripture says, “…he was not aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord” (Exodus 34:29, NLT). Moses’ face was transformed—not by effort or will, but by proximity to God’s glory.

Seeing just a glimpse of God’s presence, left a visible mark that set Moses apart.

The people saw the glow and knew he had been with God. It was not just a private encounter—it was a public testimony.

Too often we look at stories like this as if they’re just a piece of history we’re learning. We think, “that’s just another Bible miracle. It can’t happen to me.” I wonder if the disciples thought the same thing…

Another mountaintop moment unfolded centuries later—this time for the disciples. In Matthew 17:1–8, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, and there He is transfigured before them—His face shining like the sun, His clothes dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, and the voice of the Father declares, “This is my dearly loved Son… Listen to him.”

This was no ordinary vision—it was a revelation of Jesus’ divine identity.

The disciples fell face down in reverent fear. And when they looked up again, they saw only Jesus. This moment confirmed what faith had begun to grasp: that in seeing Jesus, they were truly seeing God.

Those who see God are changed. We don’t leave those moments the same. His glory reshapes us, His presence marks us, and His voice commissions us.

There are believers who haven’t seen God. Some have attended church weekly for three or more decades and believe in a God of human making—someone hateful or fickle, not just and loving.

There are people who have never believed because they’ve never been introduced to God properly. It’s like being introduced to someone at a party, except you get the gossip before you get the introduction.

How do we meet God properly?

1. Approach God with Humility, Not Performance

We don’t meet God by impressing Him—we meet Him by surrendering to Him. Moses didn’t climb Sinai to prove something; he came in response to God’s invitation. It’s not perfect church attendance God wants—it’s your willing heart. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, NLT). If you want to see God clearly, come humbly, not pretending or performing.

2. Seek Him in Scripture, Not Just in Crisis

Yes, Phil Robertson met God at the bottom, but we don’t have to wait for disaster. God reveals Himself every day through His Word. Jesus told the Pharisees in John 5:39–40 that the Scriptures point to Him—but they refused to come to Him. If we’re not in the Word, we risk forming a picture of God based on gossip and guesses. Read with the prayer, “God, show me who You really are.”

3. Make Space for Silence

God spoke to Elijah not in the wind or the fire, but in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). In a noisy world, we often miss God’s voice because we’re too full of other voices. Turn off the noise. Put down the phone. Practice quiet, reflective prayer. Seeing God starts with stilling your soul enough to notice Him.

4. Walk With Jesus, Not Just Around Him

Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured not because they were bystanders, but because they were walking with Him. The closer you walk with Christ—day by day, in relationship—the more clearly you’ll see God’s heart. Don’t just sit near the things of God. Walk in step with Jesus.

5. Expect Transformation, Not Just Information

When Moses saw God, his face changed. When the disciples saw Jesus in His glory, they fell down in worship. When you truly meet God, you won’t stay the same. So don’t approach Him just to learn something new—come expecting to be changed. Come ready to reflect His glory, even if it means your life looks radically different afterward.

Phil Robertson—he thought he had come to the end of himself to find God there, but I think he just finally stopped looking at himself and finally looked at God. Once you see Him, you can never go back to the way you were.