Quantum Physics and…”Hiddenness and Manifestation”

Graham Cooke has written a powerful little book called “Hiddenness and Manifestation” in which he describes the seasons experienced by those who are seriously following Christ. I strongly recommend it:
Hiddenness and Manifestation

Periods of hiddenness are where we learn deep truths about God. We are being tested in many areas, and our forward progress depends primarily on faith. The miraculous manifestations are not coming, because God wants us to learn to trust Him even, sometimes, in the face of seemingly impossible odds. We may not be experiencing many miracles of provision, healing, whatever, because that’s not the lesson he wants to teach us.

In contrast, periods of manifestation are where everything works like clockwork. Miracles are happening. Provisions are coming in. You pray and answers come NOW. You don’t learn deep truth about God during manifestation, you’re just struggling to hold on for dear life because he’s working so fast and furiously in your life!

There is a strong parallel here between Hiddenness and Manifestation and the truths of Quantum Physics.

The following quick overview of quantum physics is from my blog post on ???:

One of the primary tenets of quantum physics is that all of matter exists in a state of possibilities. This has been experimentally verified countless times since the age of Einstein in the early 1900s. Matter, on a sub-atomic level, is unpredictable. So much so that Einstein initially rejected the idea, claiming the randomness of matter is not compatible with a deterministic, scientific worldview. Matter cannot possibly act randomly. In his words, “God does not play dice.”

However, he later recanted this opinion, calling it one of the greatest blunders of his career.

God does, indeed, play dice. In a manner of speaking.

Matter is subject to consciousness, and this also has been empirically proven. The mere act of observing an elementary particle can cause it to change its behavior in seemingly random ways. Before observation, the various options of manifestation exist in what is called a cloud of probability. This is called the quantum wave. The quantum wave is that cloud of possible manifestations that the particle might make before the act of observation forces it to choose.

Strange, but true.

So, when the particle is observed and it therefore makes a choice on how to manifest itself, it is said that the quantum wave has collapsed. A choice has been made. The future is now fixed. It cannot be changed. All reality for the entire universe has now changed and will travel along this new path. The ramifications of the decision that the particle made has to be accepted and lived with. It could possibly affect all of humanity from this point forward. These ramifications might be more or less, depending on what is actually being observed, but things have certainly changed if only on a sub-atomic level (see my book Prayer, Quantum Physics and Hotel Mattresses, Destiny Image, 2012, for more insight).

So, let’s tie this in with the idea of hiddenness and manifestation.

Hiddenness is that period of time when the quantum wave has not yet collapsed. Everything is in a state of possibilities. Nothing seems to be manifesting, at least not in any significant way, so we must learn to navigate the waters of life using our spiritual intuition (faith). There are lots of possibilities, and some of those can be influenced by the decisions we make today (Google “the butterfly effect,” the concept, not the movie).

The butterfly effect is the idea that small, seemingly insignificant changes can cause big effects. In the same way, the seemingly “insignificant” lessons we learn during periods of hiddenness can eventually have huge effects on our lives and our effectiveness in God’s kingdom. How and when the quantum wave collapses—how we handle our times of hiddenness—determine the outcome of the rest of our lives, and can in fact cause huge, significant changes in our lives—manifestation!

Manifestation happens when the quantum wave collapses. God has decided that the time has come. “Let’s have some fun,” he says. The lessons you’ve learned are now put to the test. You’re living in the zone. You’re running the marathon he marked out for you (Hebrews 12:1) and you’re actually doing pretty well!

The laws of quantum physics state that once the quantum wave has collapsed, you can’t go back. The particle has chosen it’s preferred manifestation, and it will change physical reality forever. It may be a simple observation of an electron in the lab of some white-coated physicist, which has little eternal consequence, or it may be a miraculous healing that changes someone’s mind about who God really is. That’s the reality of quantum physics, and of hiddenness and manifestation.

Hiddenness = times of learning, faith, trust, building hope, trusting in what cannot be seen
Manifestation = times of action, concrete blessings, physical provisions, miracles and supernatural events

Hiddenness = wisdom
Manifestation – knowledge

Hiddenness = learning
Manifestation = experience

Hiddenness = trusting
Manifestation = knowing

Hiddenness = walking by faith
Manifestation = walking by sight

Hiddenness = rest
Manifestation = action

Hiddenness is a time of building.
Manifestation is a time of blessing.

Graham Cooke says “One of the reasons for hiddenness is that God wants to help us clarify our thoughts and come to the right spiritual perspective.”

The word which God gives you in hiddenness (before the quantum wave collapses) takes hold of your
life and changes you (collapse!).

If you’re in a period of hiddenness right now, it helps tremendously to know that it’s temporary, but it’s necessary. Hiddenness is no better or worse than manifestation. Both types of training and life experience are necessary. If it seems to be dragging on too long—maybe for years—realize that God has more in store for you. He is molding you into a shape that can handle the manifestation when it comes. If the time of manifestation is delayed a long time, it’s probably because God is stretching you to receive even more. Probably more than you can even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Trust him with your period of hiddenness, and just ask him what you can do to cooperate with him to step into the next phase of your life. He’s got something unbelievable for you.