Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or
where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If
I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell
in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and
your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Psalm 139:7-12
As I sit in the quiet of the
morning, I am reminded of life’s uncertainties. I awoke this morning to the
news that a church member (Randy Trotter, pray for them) had experienced a catastrophic
and potentially life altering accident in Colorado. My heart aches for them, but I trust that God
will make His presence known in an overwhelming way.
This news made me think of
another church family, the Jentsch’s, who faced a similar crisis a few years
ago. They faced a very dark night as their son, Caleb, was injured in a skiing
accident while in Colorado. They now stand on the other side of that crisis and
have an incredible story to tell of God’s faithfulness. You can read about it here.
Another story came to mind as
well, the evening that my mother called and told me that my dad had collapsed
and the ambulance had just taken him to the hospital. I will never forget
hearing the words, “Darrell, I’m pretty sure your dad is gone.” In that moment,
it did not seem real. How could a man who was fine moments ago be gone just
like that? He had just been given a clean bill of health after a pretty serious
fight with cancer. Now, a heart valve had failed him and he stepped from this
life to the next.
What do all these crises have
in common? They do not represent a time when God was absent. They represent a
time when God stood right in the middle of the storm with His children. They
represent a time that God said, “My child, you may not understand now, but you
will.” Regardless of what we face, God is with us. We can pray with the
Psalmist, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? …If I ascend to heaven, you are
there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! …If I dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea, your hand shall lead me…your right hand shall hold me.”
I do not know what you are
facing on this day. However, I know this…God is with you. There is no place
that you can go to escape His presence. While the storm may rage against you,
do not lose hope. God has not deserted you, He is standing with you.
