When you go on a mission trip, to church camp, to a worship conference, or even just to regular Sunday morning service, there’s an expectation that you’ll meet with God. We should expect to encounter God through these events! But we should also expect to experience God’s love in the daily, simple moments at home. God is with us while we wash dishes, drive to and from work, and every other moment of our days.
He is probably speaking to us then too. It’s so easy for us to be distracted from his presence with us while we’re focused on other activities.
Even now as you read this, are you aware God is with you?
Pause and take a few deep breaths. Can you sense Holy Spirit in you, around you, behind you? Can you feel his love in the depths of your soul? Sit still and silently for a moment as you come into awareness of God’s presence with you.
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Why are our eyes more open to Holy Spirit movement when we are away from our normal routines? Why is it easier for us to make space for God in these moments than in our everyday lives?
Then God, overflowing with compassion, uses these opportunities to meet with us thousands of miles away from home in ways that we can experience when we are at home! It’s kind of funny, really. He is so gracious that he offers his presence to us in ways we can recognize no matter where we are… if we slow down enough to pay attention.
For example, while walking through a local village we stopped at a house to pray with the family there. The mission is well connected with this family. She and her kids have been part of the church and programs here for quite some time. On this day, she didn’t know we were coming by. We actually didn’t plan to go to her home, just to walk through her neighborhood so the visiting gringos could learn more about the local way of life.
Without any planning, we encountered God in a powerful way. She said to us, “This morning I prayed for angels to visit and encourage me.” What a testimony! We’re not angels, but we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ, following his example of incarnational ministry to share his love. And sometimes that’s enough. Just being there is enough.
For her prayer to be answered and for us to encounter the presence of God, who meets with us where we are, this was enough.
Later the same day, a new amigo came to help translate. We asked him how he got connected with the mission, and his answer was again an encounter. “I was at home watching a movie and sensed God was missing in my life. So I stopped and went into my room to pray.” He continued on, sharing that he doesn’t often hear God’s voice audibly, but he heard it this day in his room! Thirty seconds later his phone rang, asking him to come translate a sermon for the youth group. A divine encounter while watching a movie! His testimony of this moment was a whole sermon on its own.
God’s presence is always with us, but he doesn’t often demand to be felt. God is too much of a gentleman to force us into communion with him. Yet he offers himself to us fully; a simple gift of his presence.
It’s easier to be aware of God in certain environments than others, but that doesn’t change the truth about Immanuel–“God with us.”
When or where are you most aware of God’s presence?
