Have you ever asked, “If there is a God, where are you?” King David wrote a Psalm, answering this universal cry of our hearts. Singing to our Creator, David promises us that us “You are there.” That is, anywhere we can ever go.
The first time I remember reading this Psalm, I was twenty-two. I was counting the cost of Abba’s fresh call on my life to move to Africa. Seeing, then reading out loud, the following promises touched me deeply.
Abba had gracioulsy brought me to this juncture with His love and faithfulness. That alone proved His tremendous love and care for me.
Something in me rose up. “But are you really the same God if I cross oceans?”
(Meet you on the other side.)
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you. Psalm 139
These promises began to penetrate me. My honest response at that time was, “OK God, I accept to follow you anywhere. At the same time, I will be watching. Prove to me that You are the same God there as you are here.”
That was a turning point for me. Confidence that our Creator as actively present around and in my life, brought a growing, profound peace.
I lived in Africa for the next thirteen years, across four countries and several languages.
The first two years my body “hosted” amoebic dysentery for seven months before it was diagnosed.
After that, giardia,
hook worm,
malaria many times,
and typhoid
all had opportunities to wear me out.
All of this took place while I was teaching high school in a Nigerian public school.
I learned a lot about the presence of God. I learned to say: “You are there.”
The next ten years added marriage,
moving countries,
pioneering ministries,
two children,
then one country’s rhythm of riots and siesta in the election years,
and another’s coup d’état,
and more.
I continued to learn more about the presence of God. I began to say: “You really are there, wherever I am.”
Decades later, I declare with all my heart, “Abba, You are there! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!”
There are no regrets from me for trusting these promises of God.
Will you invest yourself in these same promises?
Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone, into His promises? (It does not have to be a foreign land.)
Can you let go of ________ and allow this magnificent God to touch and even carry you when needed?
“His master said to him, · ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:23 Mounce translation
