God’s Presence
Psalm 139: 1-12
Do you have the courage to invite God into your life? In Psalm 139, the singer acknowledges
how intimately God knows each of us: “when I sit down and rise up,” “my thoughts,” “my lying
down,” and “all my ways.” The psalmist acknowledges that trying to understand God or how
He thinks is “. . . too high (wonderful, incomprehensible) for me.” The idea is that the Lord
knows us intimately and guides our lives even when we don’t realize or understand it. This
reminds me of the 8th Psalm where the writer asks the question: “What is man that thou art
mindful of him?” We are not equal to God (Isaiah 55:8-9) but God chooses to care for us
because he made us and our existence depends upon him (Colossians 1:16-17).
In this time of uncertainty, one thing you can be sure of is that God knows what you are going
through. He knows what you are thinking even before you process an idea (Psalm 139:4). He
knows and understands feelings of stress, bouts of depressions, fears, and anxiety; but he also
has given us a solution – pray and tell Him your troubles - in Philippians 4:6-7. Invite God into
your life and mind and pray for clarity in this moment. He knows all of what you are going
through. The Lord is listening and hears the cries of righteous people (Psalm 34:17).
In Psalm 139:7-12, the psalmist recognizes that God is ubiquitous (i.e., everywhere). Hear
when the psalmist asks: “Where shall I go from your spirit or where shall I flee from your
presence?” The Lord knows where you are and in fact is where you are anywhere on the
planet. This is meant to give us the assurance that the Lord is forever with you. Jesus’ parting
word to his disciples was “. . . I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So, understand
that the Lord knows you inwardly and he is with you all the time. In Jeremiah 23:23-24, the
Lord says, “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only. No one can hide where I
I encourage you to turn inward and hear the voice of God. Know that the Lord is with you in
this crisis. There is no place inwardly or physically that you can hide your thoughts or yourself.
Converse personally with the Lord in prayer (Matthews 6:6) and peace and rest from mental
anguish will follow. Most of all, the Lord is everywhere in the earth and is present in your
house, at your job and in your family – whether you are saved or not. However, you have to
invite Him in (Revelation 3:20). Now is a good time to know God and to know more about
yourself. I wish you the peace of God as we all go through this travail together.