Ever-Present

Dec. 16

Jeremiah 23:23,24

Ever-Present

“Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.”

God “fills” all of heaven and earth. Have you ever stopped to really think about that… better yet, have you ever sought to FEEL that? What if we can experience the nearness and presence of God no matter where we find ourselves because God “fills heaven and earth”? God is present in the conference room. He is present in the restaurant. He is present in our homes. He is present when we are with our friends… our families… our spouses… etc. This presence of God is something more felt and experienced than it is “thought about”. God speaks this truth to Jeremiah in an effort to remind his people.

We cannot hide from God’s presence. (cf. Ps. 139, Rom. 8:37-39) Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not our pain. Not our sorrows. Not our failures. Not our wins. Not our riches. Not our losses. This is not something to be “understood” but rather a cosmic truth that meets us in the moments of life… God’s presence IN US. As the holidays draw near, and many of us will be traveling (myself included) may we be reminded of this and seek out the experience of God’s presence in our midst wherever we are. This is an ever-present reality in our lives as the children of God.

We run into trouble when we stop resting in this nearness and begin to pretend that there are spaces where God is not present… where God is not near. In these dark moments we begin to lean into our own strength, our own skills, our own “riches” and resources. Time in prayer and meditation on God’s word are the tools that lead us into the experience of God’s presence. In what ways will your actions and emotions change in light of this truth. Where will you find the Lord this Christmas season? Love you guys - JDP