Presence!

February 1, 2024

Presence!

Is God near?  I mean, is God close enough to care for me, close enough to help me, close enough to save me?

I long to be near the Lord God.  I know God is omnipresent; i.e., always and everywhere present.  And yet, I need more than a theological statement about God to give me the assurance of God’s nearness.  I need to know God is present with me…now!

The Apostle Paul knew the Christ-followers in the church in first century Corinth needed to know that the Lord God was near, too.  In II Corinthians 13:11 Paul writes; “Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.  Be restored; listen to my appeal; agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

So many things were causing the people in the church to feel that the Lord God was distant.  There were arguments, jealousy, and spiritual pride.  There was intolerance for differences of opinions and experiences as well as disagreements about spiritual gifts and practical expressions of faith in Christ.

With so much heart-ache filling the people in the church, it was easy for the Christians at Corinth to begin believing that God was distant.  It happens in our lives, too. 

Sometimes it is easy to conclude Jesus is no longer as near as He once was.  The passion is diminished.  The fire is dwindling.  The boldness is evaporating.

The Psalmist understood what it is like to believe the Lord is no longer present in our circumstances today.  He cries out often for the Lord God to draw near.  Here are a few examples.

Psalm 121:1

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?”

Psalm 22:1-2

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night but find no rest.”

Psalm 69:17-18

“Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.  Draw near to me; redeem me; set me free because of my enemies.”

Psalm 63:1

“O God, you are my God; I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Psalm 42:1-3

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and behold the face of God?  My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’”

When you feel Jesus is no longer present, no longer near, or no longer involved, I encourage you to use one of the Psalmist’s prayers as your prayer.  Pray one (or all!) of those prayers three times each day.  I assure you, Jesus will not be offended by your honesty!

Let me leave you with a few promises that the Lord is always present with us. 

Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Matthew 28:20

“And remember, I (Jesus) am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus is present with me.  There are times when Jesus seems a little distant, a little unresponsive, a little too late.  I wonder about the nearness of God sometimes.  And yet, the promises of Jesus is that He is with me and you always…always!!!

When I remember that Jesus is with me in every moment of every day…and for all of eternity…my heart is filled with delight in the Lord.  I know I belong, I know I am accepted, I know I am loved by the Lord God.  I know the joy of faith, the peace of God, and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.

I invite you to pray the prayers of God’s absence if you are in a season of feeling distant from God.  I also invite you to pray the prayers of God’s promise that Jesus is with you always.  Let your heart explode with delight in the Lord who is always with us.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug