Something happens when a believer stops praying, “God, are you there?” and starts praying, “God, you are here!” God is with you. In fact, He stays with and comforts you when you need it. Therefore, we never need ask “God, are you there?” It will always be, “God, you are here!”
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Have you ever played hide and go seek with a child? I remember playing the game with my little cousins. One thing I’ve learned is that playing hide and go seek with kids is much different then playing with adults.
Yes, I still play hide and go seek, but we don’t play the traditional way. We play at night, in the woods, with flashlights. We call it fox and the hounds. Good luck trying to find me when we play. I’m quite clever, or at least I like to think I am.
Adults hide and hide well; however, a child will always find horrible hiding spots. A child might hide behind a tree and not even a large tree with a hole that you can climb in and cover yourself with dirt and bugs, but a child will hide behind a small tree that doesn’t even conceal them. I’ve even had a child hide behind me.
Literally, I turn around and there he is hiding behind my leg. I play hide and go seek like an adult, but God plays the game like a child. It’s never hard to find Him when you look. Sometimes, He even hides behind you, as if to say, “Though you’re not really looking, I’ve still got your back.”
God is Everywhere
God has no limits; therefore, there is no limit on where He can be found. He is everywhere. That’s what it means to be omnipresent. When we do not perceive God, it’s never because He’s not there, it’s only because we’re now aware He’s there.
There is a difference between knowing God is omnipresent and being aware of His presence. The distinction is the manifest presence of God. We must continually be aware that God is present.
Maybe that’s why the Psalmist wrote, “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8) He is saying, “Because He is here I will set Him before me.” The truth is, God can be present and us not know.
When can see this in Genesis 28:16, “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”
God Never Leaves You
Sometimes I can be in a room full of people and still feel alone. Have you ever been on a plane ride where you had to sit next to a stranger? Not all of us interact with that stranger. Not all of us form a friendship with the person next to us; however, that does not change the fact that he’s still sitting in the seat right next to you. What would you do if he tried talking to you? Would you put on your noise canceling headphones?
God is like that stranger on the plane. Sometimes, even though we might be aware of God’s presence we choose not to interact with Him. God wants us to interact with Him. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that even though He was leaving, He was not leaving.
Jesus told them, “I will be with you, always.” Jesus was not just making a statement; He was sending an invitation. “Even though I’m leaving, I’ll always be with you. So please continue to talk to me, interact with me, and be my friend. I’m sending the one who will make all this possible.” He was referring to Holy Spirit.
Sometimes the world is uncomfortable. God knew it would be. Because the world is uncomfortable, God sent His Spirit. Maybe that’s why Jesus referred to Holy Spirit as the comforter.
God is With You
One summer I started dating this girl. As time went by I came to the conclusion she was the one. I even went ring shopping. As fate would have it, we broke up. I was devastated. I didn’t understand. She had come back to Auburn to pick up her things from a storage unit so I drove out to meet her. This was when the break up became real for me. We talked and with tears in my eyes I returned to my car.
That night is engrained in my memory not as a horrible night when my world was shattered but as a night I was comforted and loved.
Leaving the storage facility I drove to my friends’ apartment. I had been staying with them for a while. When I arrived, I called my friend Samuel who dropped all he was doing and drove over to comfort me. He hugged me as we just sit on the tailgate of my friend’s truck.
That’s one thing I love about Samuel, he didn’t come over to tell me everything was going to be ok. He just came over. Samuel sat with me and hugged me. He knew that was all I needed. Later he left and I made my way upstairs to the apartment.
Getting ready for bed, I went into my room and just began sobbing. Derek and Alicia, the couple who I’d been staying with, came in and asked if I wanted to sleep in the living room. We then made a big pallet on the floor.
Instead of sleeping in their comfortable bed they slept in the living room with me. They didn’t try and talk about the break up nor did they try and fix it. Sometimes we don’t need anything fixed, we just need someone there.
God Comforts His Children
God is always there ready to comfort His children. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.” (Psalm 139: 7-10) I really like this section. It reminds me of Derek, Alicia, and Samuel.
I don’t think the Psalmist was writing out of fear…but of love and appreciation, as if to say, “God you’re there, no matter where I am, you’re there. If I feel like my world is falling apart and I decide to sleep on the floor then you sleep on the floor next to me. Not only do you use your hands to lead me but you also use them to comfort me. When words won’t do and nothing needs fixed, you sit with me and hold me. You lie down beside me and comfort me.” It’s as if God is singing this song over us:
You’re still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You’ve burned your breakfast so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there’d be days like these
But she didn’t tell you when the world
Has brought you down to your knees that
I’ll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I’ll be there for you
Like I’ve been there before
I’ll be there for you.
(The Rembrandts — I’ll be there for You)
Conclusion
Something happens when a believer stops praying, “God, are you there?” and starts praying, “God, you are here!” I hope you’re starting to understand the bigger picture of the God we serve. He fully knows us…and He fully loves us. He’s all powerful…and He’s always with us. We never have to ask “God, are you there?” It will always be, “God, you are here!”
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Question: When was a time God comforted you? Let me know in the comments.
So good!!! 🤍