How to Live Within the Two Paradoxical Sides of God’s Presence
How often have you been consoled with the idea God is with you? I know I’ve written about the comfort that comes because God never leaves us. When friends and I discuss our struggles, we also talk about the promise of God’s presence and how He journeys with each of us. Many Christian influencers fill their social media posts with the assuring truth of God’s presence when we face difficulties.
The Presence of God
I am deeply grateful for the presence of God. And I recently began to wonder if I use the truth God is with me as an excuse to remain where I feel safe and/or comfortable. I was reading an old journal, reminding my heart of lessons God taught me before, when the Spirit prompted me to consider if I rationalize, since God is with me, I must be in the right place.
Being Where Jesus Is
In 2020, I studied the book of John. John quotes Jesus in chapter14, verse three, “If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself so that where I am you may be also.” (CSB) In the context of the passage, Jesus is referring to His return to earth when He will gather His children and take them to heaven to be with Him forever.
I don’t remember what I was dealing with at the time I did my study, but I wrote this statement in response to the verse. “Jesus wants me to be with Him where He is. He doesn’t want to keep coming to my house. He wants me to set aside my comfort and be with Him where He is.”
Being at Odds with God’s Presence
Let me be transparent. There are times when we are invited to hang out with another couple, and I don’t want to go. It has nothing to do with our friends, or what the evening will entail. It has everything to do with leaving the comfort of my own home. I know it sounds silly, but sometimes I perceive life as easier in my own space.
I believe we engage in a similar conflict when God invites us to join Him where He is working. We like to be with Jesus, in fact we would say we are committed to living our lives for Jesus. I also think we like to remain in our comfort zone. We want to be a disciple where it is most relaxing and convenient for us.
Our Comfort Zone
If you are like me, and a room full of small children is scary, you work with adults. If you find teaching adults frightening, you invest in the littles in your church. This is not a bad thing; many times, this is how we learn to work within the gifting God gave us when He created each of us. However, do we only stay where we are comfortable, and never venture to where we are challenged?
Allow me to pose a few questions.
- Has God ever nudged you to do something that felt out of your wheelhouse?
- Have you turned down an opportunity to serve because it felt outside your natural gifting?
- How experienced are you at rationalizing your answer to not get involved?
Searching for God’s Leading
I pondered these questions as I considered John 14:3. I didn’t want to take the verse out of context, but I couldn’t escape this concept that though Christ is with me, He also wants me to be where He is. Sometimes, we remain comfortable within the idea that God is with me, and we refuse to engage in searching for where God wants to lead us.
Consider the following verses (italics mine for emphasis).
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24 NLT
“Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.
Deuteronomy 13:4 NLT
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27 NLT
God calls us to deny what we want, serve Him through obedience, listen for His voice and go wherever He leads.
The Struggle to Follow
I know I struggle with these simple directives at times because I create in my own mind how I want things to be. I fight loosening my grip on my plan. For example, my plan was to sell our house, pick out a new house and move in. We sold our house, and now I’m living in a rental while waiting for God to clarify what the next step is.
I also planned for both my children to come home for Thanksgiving like they do every year. This year is different since we are living in a much smaller place. Both of our children have invited us to their homes as an alternative to our Farmhouse rental. Now my sweet Pastor husband and I have a decision to make.
God has awakened an awareness that when I get stuck on my plan, I begin to complain. I whine about life being unfair, and I worry about being unhappy and/or dissatisfied. I attempt to manipulate circumstances, so I get what I want. Meanwhile, Jesus patiently waits for me to join Him where He is.
The Two Sides of God’s Presence
Perhaps God’s presence is like the two sides of a coin. He is with us, AND He wants us to follow Him. When we struggle to obey, He remains by our side prompting and prodding. If we rush ahead, He sticks close to us, guiding us where He knows we need to be. Christ also nudges us and challenges us to move into arenas we never imagined going. He goes before us and invites us to join the adventure He planned.
I have begun to ask myself the following question. Am I just counting on Jesus being with me, so I do whatever I think is best, or am I seeking to join Jesus wherever He wants to go? The Spirit is leading me to shift my perspective.
Thankfully, Jesus is with us. His presence is our affirmation, comfort, and joy. In addition, God sees beyond whatever we are currently experiencing, and He knows what is best. His plan for us aligns us with His mission, satisfies our desires, and fills us with His glory. We must choose to join Jesus where He is.
