Presence
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10, NIV
We often hear this scripture quoted, reminding us that God is always with us and will never leave nor forsake us. Since childhood, I had been told these words, and I believed them. However, it was not until recently that God revealed a new depth to this passage.
I was visiting our daughter’s home to celebrate our grandson’s first birthday. Naturally, we were all excited! At one point, I was watching him by myself. At this age, he had mastered crawling and was practicing taking a few steps here and there. Because of his curiosity and mobility, I had to keep a close eye on him.
As I sat on the floor watching him, he played with his toys, occasionally bringing them over to me. Other times, he would dart toward something he knew he wasn’t supposed to touch. I would call his name, urging him to stop. Sometimes he would pause; other times, he would hurry toward his goal, fully aware of my presence but not always acknowledging me or showing interest in what I was trying to teach him.
When my husband entered the room to take over, I stepped away to the restroom. I had not left my grandson alone; I ensured someone was watching him. In that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me:
“This is what the scripture means when it says, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' Although your grandson did not always acknowledge you, you were always there, watching over him. Your presence never left him, even when he was not paying attention to you.
It is the same with Me. You may not always acknowledge Me, but I am always with you, watching over you. I desire you to engage with Me, just as you would love to have your grandson sit in your lap, listen to you read, talk with you, or play games with you. When he chooses to engage with you, he receives extra love and cuddles. You do not force your way upon him; instead, you consistently watch over him, looking for opportunities to bless him. That is exactly how I feel about My people.”
As I reflected on what God had shown me, I realized that while His presence is always with me, I must actively engage with Him to experience the fullness of His blessings. He is always there, but it is my choice to seek Him, to go deeper in His presence, and to truly know Him. I can look back over my life and see the difference in my relationship with God when I have chosen to engage with Him versus when I have not.
God’s presence is always available, but the depth of our experience with Him depends on our willingness to seek Him.
Key Takeaways:
God’s presence is always with you.
He never leaves you nor forsakes you.
You must engage with Him to experience the fullness of His presence and blessings.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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