The hope of this new year lies full and wide before us, like an expanse of time looking over the vast stretch of sea from the shoreline. We may all be waiting for something different as the past year surely dealt each of us a very different hand.
You may be waiting:
- for a diagnosis
- for a job to open new opportunities
- for peace to fill your heart and mind
- for the wayward child to return
- for relief from covid restrictions
- for “normal” to return
The future is unknown to us and already known to God. We often read and quote Psalm 139 with regards to our lives being formed in the womb. Yet a recent reading of the psalm revealed a precious truth which encouraged me greatly:
Our God has an all-seeing eye and an inescapable presence.
There is not a single place where we can hide from either His sight or His presence.
“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.” (Psalm 139:7-10, NASB)
No matter what lies ahead, He has known since the beginning. God will be right there with us, in the middle of it all, for there is not a single place we go where He is not.
Are the days ahead seeming a little dark or cloudy? Then continue reading:
“If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.” (verses 11-12, NASB)
The days contain no darkness to our God – He sees perfectly. His eyes pierce the darkness and He knows exactly where and how to guide us through.
Today may we all realize again, anew and afresh, our Savior will be with us in every one of our days. We need not be shaken for He is not only with you, He is right there beside you.
“I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right had, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:7-8, NASB)
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
Jo,
The inescapable God – I loved what you found in Psalm 139. This psalm means so much to me. God bless you for sharing this.
Marilyn
Grateful it spoke to you as well, Marilyn.
Psalm 139 is a favorite Psalm for many including me. So many nuggets of encouragement laced throughout. This stood out to me from your post: “There is not a single place where we can hide from either His sight or His presence.” This gives me peace as I move into 2021. He is with me.
Yvonne, I am so glad these verses brought you peace today. I know they stood out like a neon sign when I read them 🙂 Blessings to you!
Thanks, Joanne! The way ahead looks very dark and cloudy right now. It is good to be reminded that God sees perfectly what lies ahead and he will lead us through it.
Lesley, may we remember what seems dark to us is fully in His light and we can trust His guidance.
Joanne, there are days when the way ahead looks dark. Whether it’s because of one of our teens struggling hard and long or because of things going on in the world, sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the next moment. I so appreciate your reminders that our God IS an inescapable God. He sees everything and is with us in every moment.
Psalm 139 is probably my favorite-est psalm of all. I love what you shared from it in this post!
I so appreciate your thoughts, Jeanne. While we find it hard to see beyond this moment, He sees the entire circumstance. All of our moments are seen by Him, and I often wonder if He sees them all at the same time.
That’s so helpful to remember that He sees us and is with us in every circumstance.
It is so comforting to me to remember there is nothing we go through that He does not go through with us.
Joanne, I love the truth that God’s Presence is inescapable, he has been speaking to me about His Presence recently. This truth is such an encouragement to me, thank you!
These days we are living in are probably causing more of us to think about His ever present Presence.