My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Ex. 33:14)
“I WANT TO RIDE WITH YOU,” my nephew, Ivan, said to me. He had just tried to drive the go-karts at the adventure park and had sufficiently frightened himself. Now he huddled close to me, wrapping his little arms around my waist. “K-K, I’m going with you.”
“Of course, you’ll go with me, and you’ll be just fine,” I assured him. His infectious grin returned and remained on his face as we zoomed around the track. When we turned sharp corners and other drivers sped by us, he stayed calm. My presence comforted him.
Moses faced the daunting task of leading Israel to the Promised Land. They had journeyed from Egypt to Mount Sinai, but a great distance still lay between them and Canaan. Moses needed God’s reassurance. God responded by allowing His glory to pass over Moses.
Stress, depression, anxiety, sickness, broken relationships—all these threaten our fragile lives. We feel fear. We cry out to God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (v. 15). God moves into our lives. He passes over our homes, leaving the mark of peace. He is for us, with us, behind us, in front of us, above us, and below us. As the pressures of life mount, His presence brings comfort. We can rest. We will be just fine.
Ask God to envelop you with His presence today.
Kathleen E. Dunlap lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and their dog, a Great Dane mix. She enjoys reading, crocheting, running, and journaling.
