Dare we believe that God is ALWAYS with us, even when we may not be aware of it?
Certainly. this is a comforting thought, especially in times of uncertainty or struggle. But hang on—if God sees all, then he knows everything about us, including those bits of our lives we might prefer to keep private or secret.
Ooooh…scary!
Suddenly, the idea of God as an all-seeing presence in our lives might not seem so attractive…
Psalm 139 is a powerful reminder of God’s presence in our lives. We are thinking about the first two verses this month.
You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven, you discover my thoughts. (Psalm 139:1-2, CEV)
These familiar words promote the idea that God is intimately familiar with every aspect of our being—from the most mundane moments of our daily routine to the deepest recesses of our thoughts and emotions.
This might seem daunting for some people, but it is essential to remember that God's knowledge of our thoughts is not meant to be a source of fear or anxiety—but rather a reminder of his loving and compassionate nature.
He already knows our every thought, action, and desire, but He still chooses to love us and forgive us despite our imperfections.
That ought to fill us with hope and comfort.
While God knows all our thoughts, that doesn't mean He judges us based on them. He doesn't look down on us for having negative or sinful thoughts. He understands that we are human beings—and that it is part of our nature to have various thoughts, some of which are not aligned with His will. He is more concerned with our actions and how we choose to
respond to those thoughts.
In addition, it is essential to remember that God's love for us is unconditional, and He understands our weaknesses and struggles and offers grace and forgiveness when things get messed up.
Ultimately we are not defined by our uncertainties and struggles but by God's love for us.
I don’t know about you, but I always feel it is easier to see how God was present in our lives with hindsight, especially when we are going through difficult or challenging times.
I know that I have gone through some painful and challenging times in my life and Christian ministry. Sometimes I wondered whether I had messed up things so much that God was no longer calling me to serve him in that way.
When we are in the maelstrom of struggles, it can be hard to see how God is working in our lives, and it can be easy to feel alone and abandoned.
However, with time and perspective, we can often look back and see how God was present in our lives, guiding us and working all things together for our good.
As I sit here now—in my 60s—I can look back to more than four decades of serving God and recognise those times when God had his hand on my life.
It's also worth noting that the way in which God is present in our lives isn't always obvious or tangible; sometimes, it's in small ways—in the people we meet, the opportunities we get, the lessons we learn, and the strength we find to keep going.
Sometimes it's through the realisation that we've been given the ability to overcome the challenges and come out stronger, more compassionate and more resilient.
In conclusion, we cannot hide our innermost thoughts from God, but we can trust in His love and grace towards us. We strive to have a heart aligned with His will and live according to His commandments and guidance. We can also turn to Him in prayer and confession, asking for forgiveness and strength to overcome limiting and damaging thoughts—and then live according to His will.
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude and humility, knowing that you have searched us and know us fully. You know us when we sit and when we rise, and you perceive our thoughts from afar.
We thank you for your love and grace towards us, knowing that even in our darkest moments, you are always with us. We ask for your forgiveness for the times we strayed from your path and for the strength to overcome sinful thoughts and actions.
We pray for the courage to turn to you in times of need, knowing that you are always there to listen and help. We pray for your continued guidance and protection and the strength to live our lives in a way that brings honour and glory to you.
In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
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