You Are There

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

-Psalm 139:7-8

You are good, Lord. It’s who You are, but I can be so quick to forget. I’ve blasted right past You, looking more at solutions to situations rather than to give You my heart in trust. I have shifted my eyes from the people to the doing, to the pulling to my own ways instead of sitting patiently in everything. You have declared in Your word and promises that you are everywhere with me, so why do I act otherwise?

I am frail and feeble, perfectly imperfect and human with every breath. Yet You remain faithful, steadfast to see me in every light, examine every angle, and love me with a great and encompassing love I can’t comprehend. What kind of love is this? Who are You to me when I’m not looking? When I’m not even aware of Your presence? I want to know more about You, about Your staying power. Where can I go from Your presence? If I sink to the depths, You are there. When I stretch myself in the heights, there You are, too. You are always there. When I pull and stretch and strain to be on my own, when I want to distance, You still stay. You always stay.

Check me, Lord, if it’s my stubbornness or pride or unwillingness to surrender to Your life over mine. What is it that I don’t seem to be getting? Quiet me with Your love, embolden me with Your mercy. Forgive me when I stray, when I seek others instead of You. Great is Your faithfulness; gentle is Your embrace.

When I crash and burn and wake to the rubble around me from my own scattered flight pattern, You can bring beauty from ashes once again. May I see You moving towards me, always protecting, always picking me back up and brushing off my mistakes to stabilize me in Your great grace. Oh Lord, You are the Lover of my soul, even when I stray. I want to look to You, let You into my fearful places. I want to see You more clearly and through the eyes of love. I want Your goodness, Your peace, and Your presence more than I want to be pulled in by the cheap flash of the world that fades in a stream of vapor. Give me more of You; give me all of You. I am offering You my heart; take it, Lord, and lift it carefully. Place it safely in Your love. You declare me Your daughter, Your beloved. I want to believe. I want to be Yours. I want to be where You are; You are always here. Always here.

You are good, Lord. You see me, accept me, and forgive me for my mistakes. You released me from my folly and now I see what I’ve been missing. You are near. And You are calling me closer, always closer.

Read Again:

If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

-Psalm 139:7-8

Consider and Respond:

How does it feel knowing God is with me wherever I go?

What is reassuring about this?

God, what are You saying to me through these verses?

Father, thank You that You are good. Thank You for Your patience, for Your mercy, and how You still love me, even when I pull away and take my eyes off of You. When I go my own way, I crash, but You are right there to retrieve me, set me back on firm ground to go again. Let me love You completely and keep being reminded of You in all I think and say. I’ve been missing Your pure love. Thank You that I am Yours. Amen.

Listen To:

“Sails (Live)” by Pat Barrett and Steffany Gretzinger