Journey into Lightl

God is always with us, but mostly we live as if he weren’t. Jacob wrestled with him all night and didn’t realize he was wrestling with God. “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16, NAS) Jacob later said. How often do we fail to realize God is in our circumstances, although he controls them all?

Many days I fail to see God in most of my circumstances. I seem go through a day as if I were on my own again, making life work through my wits and wisdom. I feel good about the pleasant things and complain regarding the painful ones.

God expects us not to fear because we always have him with us to protect and help us through every painful and scary circumstance. “Do not fear, I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10, NAS) he says to us.

And yet I fear – why? Because I am more aware of the overwhelming circumstances which I believe I am going to face alone than his promise to help, strengthen and uphold me in them. The challenge is to believe what God promises, not what my sinful nature is screaming at me. May we grow in obeying the commandment to put to death the screaming of our old nature by depending on the Spirit, and listen to the quiet comforting from Jesus that we are safe (Ephesians 4:22-23).

His presence shows up in little ways – in the eyes of a child, in the plea for help from someone needy, in the life of a godly person, as well as in the life of Jesus. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9, NAS).

So how do we become more aware of Jesus throughout the day and depend on his presence?

First, we need to accept the fact he is sovereign. Nothing happens to us that he hasn’t ordained or allowed. “The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything” (Psalm 103:19).

We need to look for him in our circumstances – not necessarily understanding why, but accepting the fact our circumstances have his approval.

We can find Jesus in the Bible as the Holy Spirit takes the Word and applies it to our hearts – not just knowing the truth but experiencing it at the trust and feeling level as we rely on him.

We can find Jesus in books. A couple of years ago I sought God for what role he wanted me to have in furthering spiritual formation in our church. After reading a book called Visioning by Andy Stanley and taking some tests from the book, I understood it was not God’s will for me to lead the charge but to support the one who did have that responsibility.

And we can become aware of his presence in what he has made. We just returned from a vacation in Portland, Oregon, where we stayed on the edge of a forest filled with redwood trees, squirrels, birds and vegetation covering the steep slopes. I felt God’s presence and peace there.

May we learn to become aware and experience his presence in all areas of our lives as we walk with him through a difficult and sometimes scary journey.