Early on in my christian journey, I had no idea what it meant to have a true relationship with Christ. I spent my weeks pained by depression. I spent my days full of anxiety. I remember holding my breath…just so that I could make it to Sunday morning. I couldn’t wait to get to the house of the Lord; because there, I could feel His presence. And there, I was able to receive relief from what I had been dealing with all week. It was exactly what I needed; except, the feelings of relief were only temporary. You see, almost as soon as I left the house of the Lord, I was faced with reality. I was faced with the depressing thoughts that I rehearsed in my mind. I was faced with my past. I was faced with my present. I was forced to feel my fears, but I had no idea how to find real peace…the kind of peace that can be found in the middle of the chaos…the kind of peace that we are promised as children of the Most High God.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NLT)
Jesus said that when we come to Him, he will give us rest.
The problem is that I was only going to Him once a week. On Sundays, in the atmosphere of worship, I invited Him into my life. I laid my burdens before Him, and I allowed his peace to cover me. But as soon as I left that atmosphere of worship, I picked those burdens right back up.
I was not living in His presence. I was visiting His presence.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalms 91:1 NLT)
If we want continued peace, we must live in His presence.
It took me years to understand this principle. I remember being at my wits end. My marriage was at rock bottom. My husband and I were separated. I found myself alone with two young children. They had no idea what was going on, but they knew that something was wrong. My son began having behavior problems at home and school, because he had no other way to express his frustrations. I was stressed, depressed, and confused. I was afraid, but I needed to keep it together for them. So, I began immersing myself in worship. I listened to worship music every chance that I got…on the way to work, while cleaning and cooking, while in the shower, as I worked out. Before long, I had created an atmosphere of worship in my home and everywhere that went. I was constantly singing and praying to the Lord. It didn’t matter where I was…His presence was with me…and His peace was with me.
True peace is only found in His presence.
During that season, I was able to find peace that surpassed all understanding. Yes, I had horrible days. And of course, there were plenty of things to stress and worry about. But even so, I was able to find His peace, and His joy. I remember going into work one day and being stopped by my boss. He told me to never stop smiling. He said that my smile always brightened up his day, and that he never knew when I was going through something because he never saw me unhappy. I worked there for almost three years and he never saw me unhappy...that…was not my joy, it was His.
We can find His joy and peace in the middle of any situation.
I am not saying this because it sounds good. I am not saying this because it’s something that I’ve heard or read in the bible. I’m saying this because I have lived it. My husband and I were separated for years. During that time, I faced let down after let down, and heartache after heartache. There were so many times when I felt hopeless…so many times when there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. But through it all, the Lord enabled me to live with peace and joy in my heart.
I have no idea who you are. I have no idea what you are going through. Maybe you’re searching for healing from your past. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by life. Maybe you’re battling depression and anxiety. Or maybe you’re just confused. Whatever it is…find true relief in Him. In His presence, is healing. In His presence, is peace. In His presence, is understanding. In His presence is clarity and direction. In that place…you will find everything that you need. There is nothing too hard for Him.
You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. (Psalms 18:28 NLT)
If your days are feeling dark, become more aware of His presence. Create an atmosphere of worship around you. Read His word. Listen to worship music. Look at the beauty He created around you in nature…and speak to Him, because He is always listening.
When we dwell with God, He dwells with us.
In 1 Samuel 3, we find a perfect depiction of what this looks like.
Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” (1 Samuel 3:1-4 NLT)
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. (1 Samuel 3:11 NLT)
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle. (1 Samuel 3:19-21 NLT)
Samuel could have slept anywhere, but the scripture says that he chose to sleep in the presence of the Lord. And because he dwelled with God, God dwelled with Him. He ended up becoming the Lord’s prophet…and he walked in purpose.
Your purpose is found in His presence.
I’ve found that many of our sorrows come from a lack of purpose. We’re confused in life because we don’t know where we’re going. We’re depressed and anxious because we can’t find our meaning. But when we dwell in the presence of the Lord, we gain our being…we gain an understanding of who we are, and whose we are. And suddenly, everything else feels much less important.
When I was fighting for my marriage, I found joy in the promise that God had given me. He promised that He would heal my marriage, and that He would allow me to speak life into other marriages. So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I had hope that it wasn’t all for nothing…and it wasn’t. Today, I’m writing to you from a place of victory. God healed my marriage, and He’s using me to speak life into other marriages. But none of this would have been possible without His presence.
Don’t underestimate the power of His presence. There…you will find more than what you are hoping for. You will find identity. You will find strength. You will find hope…and everything else that He has promised you in His word. So search for Him today. Be intentional about seeking Him, and dwelling with Him. Dwell with Him in your home. Dwell with Him at your job. Remember that He is always with you…find His presence wherever you are.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for every promise that you have given me. You have promised me a life of joy and peace. You have promised me a life of purpose and fulfillment, but this is not what I am experiencing right now. So today, I am making the decision to shift my focus. I am making the decision to lay my burdens at your feet, so that I can receive the peace that you have for me. I will choose to dwell in your presence so that I can be who you’ve created me to be. And when I get overwhelmed by life, I pray that you would remind me that you are always there right beside me. I love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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