God Is With Us

Isaiah 43:2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."  

There's been a few times in my life that I knew, without a doubt, that God was with me.  I recall one time I had to give a big presentation for work.  I struggle with severe anxiety.  Nothing heightens my anxiety like the requirement of giving a presentation.  For some, this wouldn't be a big deal.  For me, it was a terrible trigger.  

In a boardroom full of people, on a topic I honestly wasn't an expert on, I was going to be in the spotlight.  The night before my big day, I practiced and I practiced, flipping through my paper presentation.  I rehearsed while walking around my bedroom, in my pajamas.

But, no amount of rehearsal was going to save me from what I knew was coming.  I would be tortured for the entire night with fear and anxiety.  I knew I wouldn't get much sleep because I would lie awake convincing myself I was unprepared.  I shook from the fear.  I was sick to my stomach.  I could feel the adrenaline surge through me, as I sat on the side of the bed begging God to give me some relief.  

It was around midnight.  My body was racked with fear, and after I prayed for what must have been the twentieth time, I felt relief began to course through my body.  I've never felt anything like it before, and I've never had it happen since.  It was a physical sense of relief, almost a cooling sensation, that slowly made its way through my body.  

I knew it was God.  

I said nothing, I prayed nothing.  I slowly crawled back into bed, not wanting to disrupt the peace I was experiencing.  I slept heavily the rest of the night, not tossing or turning once.

The next day, He gave me the strength to pull off the presentation well.  

One of the Bible's biggest messages to us as believers is that God is with us.  He won't leave us, even though fear tells us otherwise.  In fact, fear is banished in the presence of The Almighty.  His presence is so powerful that fear can't withstand it.  God's love is the most powerful force in the universe.  His love is eternal.  Put that into math terms, and your instructor would say it is infinite.  There are no limits to His love.  Yet, He turns His powerful, infinite love towards us, vowing to never leave for forsake us.

In his powerful, infinite love, He says no issue is too insignificant to bring to Him.  Afraid of a presentation?  Talk to the God who knows communication.  Afraid of being alone?  Talk to the God who knows comfort.  Afraid to start over again?  Talk to the God of new beginnings.  When fear is welling up in you, come to God and pour out your heart.  

The most powerful force in the universe loves YOU.  He loves you in that perfect way you've been looking for, but haven't been able to find.  He loves you when you'd had a bad day.  He loves you when you don't get your work done.  When you lie, He loves you anyway.  When you fail, He wants to pick up the pieces.  He sees you out there, trying to make everything work.  

Our Savior died for you, He loves you so much.  

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  John 3:16