He Is With Me

GOD HAS SOME PRETTY amazing qualities. And that is the biggest understatement of all time. He’s all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign, holy, majestic, and full of glory. But one simple quality about God that I tend to lose sight of is that he is with me.

As we read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, we notice right away that he didn’t have a very easy life. For starters, his brothers were so jealous of him that they sold him into slavery. Then, even after he moved up the ranks in Egypt and it seemed like things were looking up, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. It looked like he might get a break when the friends he made in prison were released, but they promptly forgot about him after they found freedom. Throughout all those ups and downs, however, one idea is repeated four times: the Lord was with Joseph.

• Genesis 39:2: “The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.”
• Genesis 39:3: “Potiphar . . . realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.”
• Genesis 39:21: “The LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.”
• Genesis 39:23: “The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.”

The same is true for us, too. God is with us on that first day we’re all alone with a newborn. God is with us when we’re wrangling mini grocery-shopping haters into the grocery cart. God is with us when we don’t understand why our child is experiencing pain or setbacks.

I don’t picture the Lord in prisons. I picture him on the side of green pastures. I picture him at festive Easter egg hunts, inviting the little children into his loving arms. I picture him on the beach. I picture him beckoning us to join him and leave those dank, grubby prisons. I even picture him looking back and beckoning me to hurry up and get to the pastures.

But God wasn’t just with Joseph in the good times; he was there every step of the way. And the Lord is right there with us, too, just like he was with Joseph.

Notice that in all four of these verses, some measure of success or favor is mentioned. God is blessing us, even in the midst of what looks and feels hard. His plan is for our good even when things look sketchy.

What should that knowledge do for our confidence? How should our perspective change, knowing we are not alone and we are not forgotten? My hope is that it slows us down and gives us a passion to sense God in our midst. God is not in a rush. We might be, but he’s not. And maybe that’s why we’re so exhausted: we think we have to keep pace with him as we envision him off in the distance in those greener pastures, and we don’t realize he’s actually right beside us. Isn’t it a relief to know we can stop spinning our wheels and just keep pace with the Lord instead of trying to play catch-up?

I want God’s presence with me to strengthen my heart and my faith so that each lonely moment is clobbered by this truth: “The Lord is with me.”

On those days when I’m short on time and I can’t dive into the Word and prayer for an extended period, I want to know that just being in the presence of the Lord brings life and peace to my day.

ACTION STEP

We often live with chronic amnesia of God’s presence, when in reality he is right here. Picture Jesus sitting next to you, and hear him say, “I am with you right now.” How does that make you feel? How should this affect your life?

PRAYER

Father, bolster me today with the truth that you are with me right now. Show me the power of this truth, and don’t let me forget how this changes my life. Let your presence increase my joy and fuel me in a way that only you can do. Free me from the feeling that I’m spinning my wheels, and help me to keep pace with you as I live in your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MORNING QUESTIONS

TAKEAWAY TODAY | When is it easier for you to sense God’s presence—in hard times or in good times?

In what areas of your life do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels?

DREADING TODAY | Is there anything you’re dreading today?

REDEFINING TODAY | If so, what is another way you can view that thing you’re dreading?

ASKING GOD TODAY | What request are you bringing before the Lord today?

EVENING QUESTIONS

REFLECTION | In what situations did you specifically sense that God was with you today?

LITTLE VICTORIES | Where did you see God show up even in small ways, reminding you that you aren’t alone?

WHITE FLAG MOMENTS | When did you want to hide or escape today?

MEMORY OF THE DAY | What do you want to relish and thank God for?