The Unfailing Presence of God
In the rush of September, with the return to school and regular routines, life can feel hectic. When our days grow overloaded and pressures mount, setting aside time to be with God can seem like one more item to add to our lengthy to-do list. Like any relationship, whether with God or loved ones, a lack of time can lead us to feel distant from one another. Yet, even when we feel far from God, he is not far from us.
God tells us in Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." This assurance of God's unfailing love is especially needed when we feel the crush of daily pressures. It's also necessary when we feel distant from God due to our actions or choices. Even so, God's presence, which is not merely a theoretical concept but a tangible reality, is not dependent on our feelings. Whether we feel God’s presence or not, he is always close.
Lack of time spent with God may lead to feelings of guilt or obligation. In such times, it helps to remember we cannot do anything to make God love us any more or any less. We cannot earn God's approval or affection. God's love for us is not dependent on the amount of time we spend with him or the amount of energy we expend on doing things for him.
Our posture or feelings toward God don't change his presence or love for us. Even if we go through a season where we are distant from him, God is still with us. His word reminds us, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there" (Psalm 139:7-8). The constant presence of God is a source of reassurance and comfort, reminding us that we are never alone.
If our reserves are depleted and our steps feeble, even then God is beside us. When faced with various pressures, such as financial difficulties, health issues, relationship problems, or when overcome with worry about the future, God encourages us saying, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). The promise of God’s faithful presence gives us the confidence to face the next step when feeling overwhelmed or exhausted.
The awareness that we are secure in God's love and can do nothing to win his approval changes everything. This kind of unconditional love is foreign to us since much of our worth, acceptance, and love have been based on performance and success. So often, we assume we need to do better, be better, and work harder to earn God's approval. But this is far from the truth.
The truth is Christ's death on the cross is the only way to God. Not our grit, gumption, rule-following, or buffing ourselves shiny. "Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it" (Ephesians 2:9). Our relationship with God and eternal life is secured in Christ alone.
Tucked in his ever-present love and care, and the assurance of our worth and identity in Christ, we can throw off the need to perform and earn love, both from God and from others. Peace arrives when the striving for love and acceptance ceases. As the saying goes, we no longer "look for love in all the wrong places". We can stop working hard to be loved.
No matter our circumstances, whether they're imploding from outside forces, crumbling from our own poor choices, or fraying at the edges from stress, God's love for us stands firm. God assures us that, "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed" (Isaiah 54:10).
The irony is that even though we may feel like time is at a premium, all that feels so pressing comes into focus when we sit in the presence of God. Our priorities and plans begin to align when we align our hearts and minds with his. God doesn't add to our burden. It's a gentle invitation. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Isn't rest just what we need for our weary souls?
Carving out time to be with God sets our minds on things above. We are renewed and made whole in God's presence. His wisdom flowing through His Holy Spirit and His Word, guides our thoughts, actions, and decisions. There is a lightness in God's presence, lifting our spirits and filling our hearts with joy. There is also clarity as the other parts of our life that seemed so important or out of control grow more manageable when tethered by his grace.
As this fall kicks into high gear, be comforted knowing God's grace and guidance, love and encouragement, peace and presence are ever available. Even if you feel distant, there is nothing—not even your lack of time or attention—that can separate you from God's love and presence. At any moment, even any breath or whispered prayer, you are with him. What action will you take to make room for God this fall?
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38).
