"He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield."
~Psalm 91:4
Do you ever hurry and scurry to and fro, fretting and worrying over what is happening in your life or what might happen in the future? Do you ever walk through life feeling as if God is nowhere to be found, which then only makes everything all the more scary? Hard seasons can make it so easy to do just that, so easy to fall into anxiety and despair. But I want you to know that Jesus is just as close as the air you breathe, with you always, even though never visible.
I realized for the first time the effect that this realization can have on our overall wellbeing when my daughter was just a few months old. When my firstborn was a small baby and things were a little simpler in my life as a mom, I would just drag her little bouncy seat into the bathroom, buckle her right in, and have her sit there on the floor just on the other side of the curtain so that I could take a nice hot shower while also remaining close to my little one.
One day I was in the shower with her on the other side of the curtain per the norm when she began to whimper and then finally issue forth a full-on cry as a result of not being able to see me or know exactly where I was.
“Mommy’s here, baby”, I called out through the shower curtain. “I know you can’t see me, but that doesn’t mean I’m not here. Just listen to my voice. I’m right here.”
That’s when it hit me even as I was saying the words – I can’t see my Jesus, either. I can’t reach out and touch Him, look Him in the eye, stand with Him face to face. But that doesn’t mean He isn’t here with me. He’s always right with me and I remember that when I listen for His still, small voice. And that still, small voice? It’s enough for me. It’s enough for me as it reminds me of His ongoing, never-ending intimate presence in my life. And it comforts me just as my voice instantly comforted my daughter that day and ended her cries even when she still as yet had not seen me to know I was there. She had heard her mama’s voice, and that was enough for her to be able to settle.
Our God tells us throughout His Word that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. One of my favorite of these passages is found in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
This is a promise to you, sister. I don’t know what you’re going through, but He does. I don’t know what you’re facing, but He does. I don’t know what is surprising you, worrying you, making you anxious, or causing you to daily be battling with despair and angst, but He does, and He is with you. He never slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4), and is ready and waiting for you to pour out your heart to Him when you need someone to talk to and are in desperate need of help with nowhere else to turn. He is as close as the air you breathe, by your side and surrounding you always (Psalm 91:4). If you want to hear His voice and be comforted and convinced of His nearness, all you need to do is pick up a copy of His Word. Every letter and word in it is God-breathed, His very words and thoughts themselves. You don’t have to go searching for God or become desperate to hear His voice. You can hear His voice every moment of every day if you but pick up His Word and spend time with Him in prayer.
He is there, friend. He loves you, and He is always, always there. Knowing that can make all the difference in the world.
Rebekah, this was beautifully encouraging. I am so very grateful He is faithful to meet us and speak to us from the pages of His Word and in prayer.
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