He's already there...

A plaque in my laundry room reads, "don't worry about tomorrow, God is already there." Not confined by time or space, He sees the end from the beginning. And it doesn't ruffle His feathers, stress him out or cause Him to freak out. Whatever it is that I have done, thought about, seen, experienced, worried about, or feared...He's one step ahead of me. A song that He used to illustrate that point to me many years ago said it this way, "You go whistling in the dark, making light of it, and I follow with my heart, laughing all the way".  How many times have I done something like that to help take my kids' mind off of something unpleasant, and they, because they trusted me and held my hand...were okay!

Jehovah Shammah, one of the names of God, means 'The Lord is there'.  One of my favorite passages using this meaning is Matthew 28:20. The last recorded words of Christ before His ascension are, 'and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' It gives me goose bumps. Such a tender reminder but spoken with authority and assurance. Another great one is Psalm 46:1...'He is a very present help in times of trouble'. Because I experienced His presence in a profound way the day I found my husband in coma, I can always go back to it. It helps in the moments when I'm experiencing something difficult. Or on those days when I just can't seem to find my faith! This morning I was blessed with a beautiful reminder of Jehovah Shammah from Arthur Burk's, Blessing your Spirit,  I really can't say it any better,read it aloud over yourself and be blessed:

I bless you with knowing your Father is there for you at all times. He is there as Abba Father, when you need fathering. He is there as the answer for your uncertainty and questions. He is there for you as your defender and deliverer when you feel attacked. He is there as your faithful friend when you feel alone. He is there as the God of love when you feel unloved and need a hug. He's there for you as mercy and grace when you are too hard on yourself or others. He is there for you with hope when you are discouraged and want to quit. He is there for you, never failing, always the same, even when you are fickle and faithless. He is there as quieter of the storm for conflicts and fears within your soul. He is there as true satisfaction when you've tired everything but Him. He is there as true riches when you are tempted by the world's allure. He is there as way-maker when there seems to be no way out. I bless you with never living a minute without realizing your Father is there and that no need or desire of yours can strain His resources or His willingness to give you His very best. I bless you in the name of Jehovah Shammah, your God who is always there.