“But as for me, it is good to be near God.” Psalm 73:28
God’s assurance that He is ever present can be found throughout the Bible. He is there whether our days are filled with exhausting or unexpected demands and circumstances or mundane. Because we are spatial beings, we struggle with the concept of God being in all places at all times. But He is because He is God. This is mind-boggling to our finite minds, but it stays true to God’s nature. One of the most beautiful passages concerning God’s presence in our lives comes from Psalm 139:7-12.
“I can never escape from the Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
If I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest ocean,
Even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me
And the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.”
We don’t know how to explain it, and often words cannot describe His omnipresence’s impression on our lives. It’s not merely a theological or intellectual statement to say God is everywhere; it has real-life ramifications. To believe and understand this Godly characteristic changes everything for us, and there are times when meditating or recognizing God’s constant companionship will make all the difference in our hearts, minds, and emotions.
Being constantly aware of God in all corners of our life draws us closer to Him. But there are times when we particularly need His reassuring presence. Times of trouble or temptation and times when we are called to surrender our will and submit to what He has ordained for us. We all feel overwhelmed when God calls us to do something we never thought of doing and didn’t want to do in the first place. When God called out to Moses from the burning bush (Ex 3:4) and tasked him with leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he questioned God and tried to get out of the assignment. But God reassured him that He would certainly be with him (Ex 3:12). God knew that Moses needed the reassurance of His constant presence.
Even though God is always present, there are moments when God seems to manifest Himself to us more vividly than at other times. It can be through a great worship experience, devotion, and even through flowers. Last week was a particularly challenging week for me. Various demands and obligations pulled me from every direction, and I was starting to feel overwhelmed. I wasn’t meditating or being mindful of God’s presence in the chaos. I was like the diligent staff officer, executing the details. Then a text came from a friend alerting me that flowers should be arriving the next day. This was the second time she had ordered them. The first order never arrived, and the fight to be reimbursed took weeks. In her mind, the flowers were late, but the timing was perfect in light of my stressful week. God’s timing is always perfect. The beautiful flowers made me stop and be reminded of the joy and comfort of His ever-present, abiding presence. He is always near, right beside us. It is my prayer that you will bask in His presence daily. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.