God Is Here, Now

The prophet Jeremiah recorded what God told him.

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord?” (Jeremiah 23:23-24, ESV).

There may be times when you feel like God is far away, but that’s because you have turned your back to Him instead of turning your face toward Him. There may be times when you prefer God to be far away, like Adam and Eve; when you have knowingly sinned against God, you too may try to hide from him.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8, ESV)

However, wherever you go, God is there, or rather, He is here! It matters not if you are high in the mountains of Red River Gorge, in the valley of the Kentucky River, or in the middle of downtown Lexington; God is near at hand. You may be “tuned out” to His presence, but He is “tuned in” to you. Isaiah gives us the prescription for those who feel far from God.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6, ESV)

God tells us He is not a faraway God, but a God who is near to us. There is no place you can go where you cannot whisper your prayer into the ear of your heavenly Father. King David provides us with a much-needed perspective on just how close God is to every one of His children, including you.

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:1-10, ESV).

This demonstrates His eternal love for us. The Apostle Paul gives us reassurance when he tells us:

“I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)

The next time you feel you need to go to some special place to find God’s presence, remember, He hears you wherever you may be. God is here and you have His ear!