I need presents. Oops, that’s a typo. I meant to say I need presence.
Several months ago, I attended a seminar at St. Peter’s Hospital in Hamilton. One of their psychologists presented a talk on providing support to both the patient and their support team of those in long-term care. One of the most effect ways of caring for people living through these tough times is simply being present. It didn’t have to be hours at a time, but regular and frequent time together was identified in many studies as being the most effective way to share the load and provide encouragement.
It’s so simple - we can all do that. And God always does.
We live in an individualistic culture. We can do it on our own. We don’t need anyone. We celebrate the self-made person. And if you do need help you reach for the latest self-help book. We have come to believe that sharing the journey is risky, and because we’ve been betrayed or hurt before, we would rather go it alone.
This strong sense of independence bleeds into our relationship with God. We reach for Him at about the same time (sometimes after) we need the self-help book. But there is a major difference. God has been there all along. His presence doesn’t depend on our acknowledgement or request for help. He is always there, always engaged.
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. (Psa 139:7-10 NASB)
- When we question the reality of God’s presence, we need God’s people around us to give some flesh-and-bones reality to that truth. We can’t hug God, but we can hug each other. In a very real sense, being God’s image-bearers means there is a way in which we represent God; we are God’s presence in effigy. Our interdependence allows each other the opportunity to share the burden with each other. That may mean listening to each other rant bursts of anger against God. The psalmists did it! And they shared their rants . . . and then it was the community of faith that helped them get their bearings and remember this simple truth: God is faithful.
Here are some reminders that I hope will be encouraging:
We are always in God’s presence. Always. (Psalm 139)
God is always engaged and enthroned. Always. (Psalm 113:5-8)
Pain, loss, grief and heartache sometimes makes it feels like God has abandoned us. Those feelings are very real and honest. And it is OK to feel that way. (Psalms 13, 22, 73)
Our feelings do not define truth. Nothing can separate us from God’s love and care. Nothing. (Romans 8:35-39)
While God always has good purposes, we may not understand them. They may remain a mystery to us. But that does not deny the work of His grace in our lives. Never. (Ephesians 1:15-2:10)
Consider the work of God:
For who can make straight what he has bent?
In times of prosperity be joyful,
but in times of adversity consider this:
God has made one as well as the other,
so that no one can discover what the future holds.
(Eccl. 7:13-14 NET)
Solomon is not a fatalist. Not everything God does will be explained to us, nor will we necessarily understand it. As he said earlier in his book, “God is in heaven, we are on earth. Let our words be few” (Eccl. 5:2). Yet, in all this Solomon recognizes God is active. He is engaged.
Living by faith takes courage (think Daniel, Joseph, Abraham). We can take courage in this truth: God will never leave us or abandon us. He is faithful. Always. (Psalm 9:10, 66:16-20)
When you reach the end of your rope don’t just tie a knot and hang on . . . Find someone, a co-follower of Jesus, who can help hang on to you. And let them. Sometimes the most powerful touch of God comes through a gentle arm around the shoulder. Let them remind you that we are together in the presence of our almighty, Creator God.
