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In our house, the most disconcerting sound is definitely silence. Our youngest daughter is striving for the record of the world’s fastest and quietest destructive force. She’ll give you a false sense of security that you can take your eyes off her for ten seconds, only to look up and see her on top of the kitchen table, attempting to swing from the light fixture above it. Just when you have cleaned up one of her messes, she’s already made her way to a different room like a well-trained agent of chaos. As much as I question my sanity, it’s impressive how she seems to be everywhere all the time.

Given that I can barely comprehend how my own toddler seems to be in multiple places at once, how much less can I comprehend God’s actual omnipresence? As we read through Scripture, we see that God is not limited by space as we are. He is omnipresent: fully present everywhere, while not contained by any place. Nowhere in creation is He absent. Yet this God, who is not contained, chooses to make his presence known in a special way among his people. From the garden, to the Tabernacle, to Christ dwelling among us, to the Spirit dwelling in His people, over and over again Scripture tells the story of an omnipresent God drawing near to us in covenant relationship.

In the garden, He dwells with Adam and Eve and walks alongside them. During the Israelite exodus from Egypt, God manifests His presence through a pillar of cloud and fire, protecting and guiding His people through the wilderness. Later in Exodus, God gives instructions for building the Tabernacle, which becomes the visible center of God’s dwelling presence among His people. The Spirit is active throughout the Old Testament in creating and empowering judges, kings, and prophets. And then the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. Jesus not only walks in the shoes of humanity, but He nails our sin to the cross and establishes a new covenant with us. The Spirit now indwells every believer, and together God’s people are His temple. What a gift we have been given!

When we feel alone—like God has forgotten us or that He’s simply done with us—we look back at Scripture and remember that He has always been near. God could’ve created us and then kicked His feet up and let us deal with our human-made problems. But instead, He chooses to be in the thick of our humanity. He walks beside us through life and goes before us. God is with us where we are, but He is also present where we are not. Because we aren’t in charge and we don’t have to be everything to everyone all the time, we can release control and not live in a spirit of fear. Things in this world feel too big for us to handle (because they are), but God is working far beyond what we can see.

So, when you walk into the doctor’s office and you’re unsure about what news you’ll receive, the same God who went before Israel in the cloud and fire is present with you there. When you find yourself stuck in the same continual sin pattern, take heart that God Himself put on flesh to dwell with and save sinners from their own fate. When you debate making a huge life change, remember that He has given you His Spirit to teach you, guide you, and pray for you. And even in the day-to-day—for me, feeling overwhelmed as I’m deep in the trenches of parenting young kids—we can be grateful that He’s with us there, too.

Taylor Lewis

For the Women at Grace Newsletter Team

Take a moment to read and reflect on God’s Word.

Psalm 139:7–11 —> “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.”

Genesis 1:1–2 —> “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

Exodus 13:21–22 —> “The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.”

Exodus 40:34–38 —> “Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. The cloud of the LORD hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.”

Luke 1:30–33 —> “‘Don’t be afraid, Mary,’ the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!’”

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 —> “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Revelation 21:1–6—> “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ And he also said ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.’”

Whitney Maness

For the Women at Grace Newsletter Team

God’s omnipresence means that He is fully present everywhere. His transcendence means that He is above and independent of creation rather than contained by it. His immanence means that He is genuinely present and active within His creation. Hold these attributes in mind as you reflect.

1. Look around you. Where in your immediate, everyday surroundings do you notice hints of God’s transcendence? Read all or part of Psalm 104. Write a prayer of praise, and ask the Lord to awaken you daily to His omnipresence.
2. Consider God’s immanence. Think particularly about the indwelling Holy Spirit (see John 14 and 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 above). How has God’s Spirit recently relieved anxiety or stress, strengthened, or transformed you? Write a personal prayer, asking the Spirit to purify and empower your thoughts, words, and actions.
3. Finally, look ahead. As we reflect on Revelation 21:1–6, zoom in on verse 3: “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.’” Write a prayer of praise and thanks. Who can you encourage with this hope?

Dawn Tietz

For the Women at Grace Newsletter Team