Living on the Promises: God’s Transforming Presence

The promises of God are a rock-solid foundation for every day of the year, and we’re jumping into our 2023 series with the powerful promise of God’s presence.

But first, let’s be honest…God’s presence doesn’t always bring comfort. Many don’t feel His presence. Some don’t want God’s authority. Others don’t trust Him because they’re angry that an all-powerful, all-loving God allows evil and pain. Many ask, “What good is His presence if life still hurts?”

That is an excellent question that opens the way to truly treasuring His promised presence. In fact, the willingness of God to be present in our pain is the greatest proof of His love! The presence of God despite our rejection of His ways and our accusations against His character reveals the almost incomprehensible beauty of His nature. This Creator – who wanted only to love us – accepts our failures, embraces our pain, and gently, persistently calls us to turn to Him, the Giver and Sustainer of life.

As God waits for us to obey His voice, He doesn’t just sit idly by, observing us in a disconnected way. He enters our pain. God allows Himself to be vulnerable to the damage we experience, feeling our hurt with us and catching our tears in a bottle. How many friends do you have who will “sit in the mess with you?” Many want to swoop in and be the hero who saves you from your distress, but few are willing to walk with you while you find your way. Jesus is that kind of friend!

While God’s presence provides us with the possibility of triumph, He doesn’t just provide us an easy out from our problems. He honors our potential, trusting us to find His solutions by calling us to come closer. Isn’t that beautiful – it far exceeds a simple escape plan! Every parent knows it’s easier to do a task than have your child do it – but the only way a child gains skills and strength is trying, failing, and trying again! Our heavenly Father patiently sits with us, sharing our pain, as we endure the struggles needed to prepare for eternity.

From Genesis to Revelation, God expresses His desire for a loving relationship with each one of us. His longing for our love compelled Him to speak life into being even though He knew the horrors to come. That same love propelled Him to enter fallen creation as a vulnerable baby and even face the torture of crucifixion, so He could overcome the damage we caused and restore us to Himself. Through it all, He maintains His promise to be present in our lives – proving His enduring love for you and me.

Read about the presence of God in these verses and tell us how focusing on God’s presence changes your life!

Meditate on one verse a week.

Week One: 

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).

Week Two:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5 ESV).

Week Three:

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you (Genesis 28:15 ESV).

Week Four:

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20 ESV).

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