Panic or Presence?

Oh, those sleepless nights… this is one of them. As I lay awake in bed trying to clear my mind of anxious clutter, the sound of the dog snoring wins out over peaceful calm. Time to relocate. Maybe a blanket and an old movie will do the trick? Nope. The moving images on the screen just seem to further irritate my already irritable reality.

So, I turn on some instrumental praise music and my Heavenly Father begins to remind me once again of the answer to my restlessness… HIS PRESENCE.

Can you relate?

We want the plan… He says, “I am with you”.

We want resolution… He says, “And surely, I am with you always.”

We want safety… He says, “So do not fear, for I am with you.”

Long ago a man named Moses wanted answers and direction. We read in the book of Exodus that God had called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into a land flowing with milk and honey. Sounds like a great plan! Unfortunately, he was surrounded by the clutter of countless grumbling humans continually missing the divine blessings right in front of them. (Sometimes a place I find myself! How about you?)

When we meet up with Moses in Exodus 33, we find him lost in external and internal unrest. We also discover the heart of this man of God. Moses says, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” In other words, “God, I don’t want to be ANYWHERE where you are not.” I don’t want to go ahead of you. I don’t want to make my own plans and hope you’ll tag along. I want to be right in the center of You.

And then a few verses later Moses makes the most audacious ask of God… “Please, show me your glory.” And God does! It was powerful. It was beautiful. And Moses was forever changed. And we must ask, is that kind of encounter with God only reserved for Moses? Or is it God’s desire that you and I also experience His presence and glory in the same way that Moses did on that mountain, also becoming forever changed?

So as I lay here in the watches of the night ruminating on the things that make me anxious, and the problems that I can’t solve, and the needs of those I love so deeply… I am reminded that God’s answer to Moses is His answer for me and for you: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Maybe, just maybe, we want answers when what we need to want is God.

You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 

David

Psalm 27:8 ESV