OMNIPRESENCE! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
OMNIPRESENCE! YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!
Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” —Genesis 35:3
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” —Matthew 11:2-6
What do we do when distress comes upon us? Do we fret, worry and complain or do we seek our Lord and speak with Him about it? Jacob said that God “answers me in the day of my distress.” Not only that, but Jacob understood and said God “has been with me wherever I have gone.” May we do the same thing and talk with God about our situation and expect Him to answer. Oh, that we would never forget that He always with us. That is His promise to us (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5).
But when hard situations come upon us we may have a tendency to doubt His presence. John the Baptist doubted when he was in the hard position of being in prison— “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” What did John need to be encouraged past his doubt? He needed to hear from the living Word. Jesus sent back His Word to John and that is what we need when we doubt— the surety of God’s Word.
What do we need to get us past doubt when we are in difficult situations? We need also the Living Word— “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:14). We only need to be reminded what God says and then trust Him in whatever difficult situation we are in— “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). What was “the secret” that Paul “learned” in how to be content? It is in the next verse— “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Will you and I trust Him to give us the strength to go through whatever situation we are in? May we do so!
Yes, Dear Father, may I trust You in whatever situation I find myself in. I thank You that You are always with me. May I be faithful to be and do Your desires regardless of what is happening in my life and may this be by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. I’ll trust You to give me the strength I need. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQmsEE_2-s