Anchored... In His Nearness

DEVOTIONAL

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, and if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” — Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)

As a child, I thought that God’s omnipresence (His ability to be everywhere) mainly had to do with geography. God can be with me, and in China at the same time. This, I thought, was a very nice feature to have, especially if you were craving Chinese food.

I’ve learned to accept a much broader view of the doctrine. God’s omnipresence isn’t limited to physics. David, as he penned Psalm 139, said that if he went to “the highest heavens or to the deepest depths," God was present. The word here for depths is Sheol, the Hebrew word for hell. You could almost read it as, “God, when I’m going through hell… You’re there.” You see, He is close by us, not just in every place, but also in every season and in every emotion. In our most devastating tragedies He is present, and in our greatest triumphs He is near.

If you were to ask Moses, he would tell you that God is in the wilderness. Elijah, I think, would tell you that God is in the silence. My friend, who just lost a child, would tell you that God is in the grieving. I could tell you, as I’ve toiled to redeem my past, that God is in the healing. But wherever that is for you, let your heart be rooted in the knowledge that God is deeply present, keenly aware, and tirelessly active in the minutia of your life.

CALL TO ACTION

Read the following text:

“‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away?’ Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’” — Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV)

Picture Jesus sitting right there with you (because He is). Where do you need Him to be present?  Maybe it’s your finances, your marriage, or your relationship with a child. Ask Him to reveal His presence in this area or relationship. What is He doing? What is He saying?