Recently a group I am a part of memorized a few Bible verses together. I had to confess that I was marginally ahead of the game because they were verses I had memorized as a teacher while I was helping a group of 6 and 7 year olds commit them to memory. It took a little bit but the verses came back to me pretty quick. If the words came back to me I am hopeful that those children (now in their mid twenties) also have those same verses still hidden in their hearts.
I dug out a recording I had made of their voices reciting the scripture. In a word, it is PRECIOUS. I thought about what those kids have experienced in the 15 years since their tiny voices recorded those powerful words. A LOT happens between the ages of 6 and 25. While the kids had memorized the entire chapter of Psalm 139, verses 7-12 are what gave me great peace.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12
As David composed this Psalm, he was writing from experience. He went from being a shepherd to a king. He went from defeating a giant to committing adultery and murder. He was blessed by the birth of children and lost them to death and betrayal. During all of David’s life God was there.
There is nowhere that we can go that God is unaware. In fact, David was acknowledging that his faith in God is accompanied by the presence of God, His Spirit. How awesome is that? God is always with us. Through joy filled births of babies, God is there. In a sorrow filled death of a loved one, we are not alone. During anxious, worrisome, periods of cancer and terminal illnesses, He will not leave us. Enduring periods of darkness, depression and emptiness…we cannot get away from His light. Even during seasons of disobedience, nowhere is too far to be guided back to Him.
During every moment of our life, God is there. What can we do in response to this truth? We can do what David did…repent, worship and glorify the one who created us and forgives us. He is present all the time, every single moment…the joyful, the mundane, and the painful. Knowing He is there in every moment brings peace and truth to our lives that will change us.
If you have a few extra minutes I am including a recording of my students. I hope that you can listen to it and reflect on how God is there for every moment of your life as well as for these precious children who are now grown ups!
Amy