The presence of God is a reality, whether we are aware of it or not.
A plaque hangs in our dining room. It reads: “Christ is the Head of this house, the unseen Guest at every meal, the silent Listener to every conversation.”
It’s a good reminder. God is near. Always.
He is with us. He promised never to forsake us.
God is with us in the good times. He refreshes us with the sunshine, a cool breeze, or in the conversation and laughter over a meal with friends. Every good gift in life comes to us from His hand. (James 1:17) Pondering His goodness to us should cause us to live in gratitude.
Even in our sorrow and pain, God is with us. He promises He is working toward a good end. He reminds us to keep an eternal perspective. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT. Thinking about His presence in our suffering enables us to live in peace. He carries us through the hard circumstances. The challenges in life help us to realize how needy we are. We can’t do life on our own. Experiencing hard things, knowing they are beyond our ability to control or dismiss, causes us to live in dependence on God. We are frail and weak. Nothing is impossible for Him. He provides a peace that passes our understanding.
Jesus is here. Nothing surprises Him. He sees and knows all. Not only does He hear and see our words and our actions, but He knows our hearts. We are accountable to Him. Those who live as if He is not here, make foolish decisions.
As we draw close to God, He draws close to us (James 4:7). If we seek Him, we will find Him. He invites us to call upon Him (e.g. Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 145:18). Turning to Him we find His generous provision, His divine protection, and a security nothing can undo. Thinking about who He is–all powerful, sovereign, wise, and good–makes any challenge we face shrink in importance. He is our Refuge, our Healer, our Friend, our Good Shepherd, and so much more.
I remember reading about another plaque. An atheist was determined to ensure his son did not consider God relevant to his life. The father placed a sign on the wall that read, “God is nowhere.” However, the way his son read the words as he grew up was, “God is now here.” As the boy grew up pondering the presence of God, he became a believer. God in His sovereignty enabled him to learn truth despite his father’s misguided efforts.
The presence of God is a reality, whether we are aware of it or not. But living in the awareness of His presence changes who we are and how we live.
“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13-14 NLT
How have you been especially aware of God’s presence? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2024 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
This past weekend I felt God’s presence more than usual as He protected me from being hurt worse than I was. I felt His presence, and still do, from so many people who loved and cared for me. I know He is with me wherever I go and I praise and thank Him for that! 🙏
I’m glad you experienced God’s protection. How true that we feel His presence through caring people. Thank you, Elizabeth.
I’m thankful God never leaves, never fails, and never forsakes. Thanks for the reminder.
We can be thankful God is faithful to keep all of His promises. Thank you, Joni.