Photo by Juan on Pexels.com“And God, just be with them…” These were the words from someone at church who was praying for my husband and I one Sunday morning, and they said that phrase more than once in their prayer—God be with them. That day I started thinking about those words. Were these filler words used when someone didn’t know how to end their prayer? Or did they say those words because they knew that, although they might seem trite, they are really the most powerful request they could have uttered on our behalf?
2020 morphed into a grievous year and that phrase has been ringing in my ears. God be with them. In reflecting upon it, I am left with this question: God is with me, but why does recognizing God’s presence make a difference in my circumstances, even if the circumstances stay the same?
Below are four passages of Scripture that have helped me work through the significance of recognizing God’s presence in my life.
1. Recognizing God’s presence provides sustaining comfort and peace.
“4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:4-5)
Can you imagine coming face to face with a frightful enemy, and saying, “Before you threaten me or whatever it is you plan to do, I’m just going to finish up this burger. Would you like some fries?” Disarming, isn’t it? Recognizing God’s presence in the midst of my fear brings comfort and peace. Maybe it is as simple as knowing there is someone bigger than me, more powerful than me, whose simple presence means peace like a parent laying down with a scared child in the middle of the night. He is there … knowing, working, and sustaining me.
2. Recognizing God’s presence in overwhelming circumstances leads me to a correct view of God, of myself, and the proper worship of God.
9 So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, 10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” (Exodus 3:9-12)
Moses was the Hebrew fugitive out of Egypt. Older, wiser, and enjoying a quiet life tending sheep, he saw a bush that didn’t burn up and there encountered God. God told him of a big job he had for him and Moses gave excuse after excuse of why he couldn’t do what God was asking. God responded with comfort and proof that Moses was going to be ok and that he could accomplish what God was asking of him. The comfort—God would be with him. The proof of God’s presence—Moses and those with him would worship God once out of Egypt.
It has always boggled my mind that in order for Moses to have proof that he could do what God was telling him to do, he must first begin to do it! Then the proof would be found in Moses’ worship of God in the midst of it. But the point wasn’t that Moses could do it. No, Moses needed to know that God is who he is, that God could do it. It was God’s presence with Moses that made the difference. When Moses gained a correct view of God and himself, he accomplished the task and proper worship happened.
3. Recognizing God’s presence preserves me by faith in him because he is real.
Daniel’s friend’s, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, had rather burn to death for something that was true than worship something fake. And King Nebuchadnezzar took them up on it.
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:13-18)
Don’t be misled. God was not on trial. The three friends knew their God. He is the real deal. God could rescue them. God could choose not to, but these three were not going to worship something that wasn’t worthy of worship.
In his anger, Nebuchadnezzar gave them the death sentence—burn alive in a fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?” “Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.25 He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:24-25)
God was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire. His presence with them preserved them in what would ordinarily consume them. It is similar with me and you. What could consume doesn’t have to. The reality of God’s presence in my life preserves what would otherwise destroy.
And another thing—my faith in the reality of God during difficulties also makes a difference in those who do not believe.
28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” (Daniel 3:28-29)
4. Recognizing God’s presence reminds me of his eternal purposes and helps me love well in this world.
21” She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23)
Christmas. The incarnation. God puts on flesh and lives with us. Why? To save the world from sin.
Sin. Such a small word. Yet it has created a world of hurt.
As a teenager, I thought of sin as things I wanted to do that were no big deal, but God seemed to think were bad. I was wrong. I got a little older and thought of sin as things I wanted to do that I shouldn’t and things I should do that I didn’t want to do, and both types were a big deal and had consequences I couldn’t fathom. I wasn’t wrong, but my understanding was too narrow. Genesis 3 taught me through Eve and Adam, that sin is trusting and obeying anyone other than God and what he commands. At its root, sin is prideful selfishness. It come in all shapes and sizes.
My sinfulness also has consequences that not only effect myself, but also separate me from God and ripple through society. I think that’s why Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second is it love others as I love myself. (Mark 12:20-31). Living out these commands hinder the chain reaction of sin.
Sin not only affects me here and now. Sin affects my eternity. God has my eternity in his sights. He sees a big picture and he cares about me. And not just the me I see. He cares about my sin-sick soul.
The remedy for sin is a relationship with God. He is without sin. God through Jesus came into our world, lived without sin, and died on a cross in our place to become the payment for sin. Three days later he rose from the dead, conquering the power of sin and death, and proving he is God.
God meets my needs, body and soul. He saves me from sin.
Recognizing God’s presence helps me turn away from sin and to him. His presence helps me to love him and love others while living in this broken world. His presence reminds me of a future hope with him.
If you don’t have a relationship with God so that his presence in your life can begin to make a difference, below are a couple of links with an explanation on how to begin that relationship.
It’s why I celebrate Christmas. He is joy for the world. God is with me.
May God be with you.
shareen grace 