God's Presence

Have you ever left your house without your phone? How did that make you feel? It can be terrifying; in fact, 87.8% of people feel uneasy if they leave their phones at home. Our phones have become constants in our lives; they are a presence we feel constantly to the point where we can feel off balance without our phones in our pockets. What presence do you feel constantly in your life? Maybe it’s your wallet or your wedding ring or a watch? These things we put on everyday become so much a part of us that we just feel awkward when we forget them. Do you feel God’s presence in your life the same way you would your wedding ring or your phone? 

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

“And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” (Exodus 33:14)

We can find rest, joy, and peace in God’s presence. God has also promised to never hide from us. He isn’t hard to find, and His presence is a natural outcome of our pursuit of Him.

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

Sin is the great separator, and when we have committed a sin or we are living with unconfessed or unrepented sin, then we have created a separation between ourselves and God by choosing that sin. In these times we can become just like Adam and Eve after they disobeyed.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

They hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God, and some of us spend years hiding. Whether it’s because we would rather hide with our sin than be found by God, or perhaps you fear what God might do should he find you—whatever the reason, some people disobey and try their whole lives to hide from God.

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

So we may try to hide from God, but there is no hiding from Him. He is all-seeing and all-knowing and all-loving. There is discipline for rebellion, but there is also forgiveness. If you are hiding from God, know that He knows where you are and what you’ve done and He loves you just the same. He is waiting for you to come out of your hiding and fall at His feet. He has forgiveness ready to offer the repentant sinner. There is no escaping His presence. This is His world, and we are His creation. Find your rest, joy, and peace in His presence today.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed