Experiencing the Presence of God

Experiencing the Presence of God

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. – Exodus 33:14

Exodus 3:7-12

Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.”

“So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey . . ..”

“Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.”

“Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

The Power of Faith in Difficult Seasons

“Life is so ironic. It takes sadness to know happiness, noise to appreciate silence, and absence to value presence” (Lessons Learned In Life).

Faith is often shaped in seasons marked by uncertainty, hardship, and pressure. Difficult circumstances expose the limits of human strength, yet they also make the Father’s steady presence more evident. In such moments, His nearness becomes the source of confidence, endurance, and hope. Although His presence does not always remove suffering, it assures His children that they are never abandoned in the midst of it. Because He remains present, we can trust Him, persevere through hardship, and rest in the confidence that our future is secure in His hands.

The Father gives His children far more than temporary relief. He provides stability in times of upheaval, hope when the future feels uncertain, and assurance when the path ahead is unclear. Faith, then, is not strengthened by the absence of trials but by the unshakable reality of His faithfulness within them.

Moses and the Assurance of God’s Presence

When the Father called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land (Exodus 3:10), Moses responded with understandable hesitation and doubt. From a human standpoint, the task seemed impossible. He was not a ruler, a military strategist, or an influential public figure, but a shepherd who had lived for years in relative obscurity. Nothing in his background seemed to qualify him for such a monumental responsibility.

Yet the Father did not answer Moses with a detailed plan or the reason why he was chosen. Instead, He gave him a promise that addressed the deeper issue behind all his fears, Exodus 3:12: “I will be with you.”

This assurance fundamentally transformed Moses’ perspective. His success would not hinge solely on his own abilities, confidence, or eloquence, but rather on the presence of the One who had called him to his mission. The Father did more than just assign him a task; He offered His unwavering companionship throughout the journey. This idea encapsulates a crucial tenet of faith: Every divine calling comes with the promise of divine presence.

The Promise Extended to God’s People

This promise was not given to Moses alone. It extends to every child of the King, assuring us that the Father never calls His people to move forward without His presence. Beneath every responsibility, every trial, and every uncertain future is the sustaining reality that He remains with us.

The Lord Jesus Christ reaffirmed this truth in His words to the disciples, offering a promise that continues to strengthen believers in every generation.

Matthew 28:20: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Lord Jesus Christ’spromise establishes a lasting source of courage for every child of the King. His presence is not occasional, uncertain, or dependent on circumstance. It is continual. Whether in times of clarity or confusion, strength or weakness, abundance or loss, His people are sustained by the unshakeable truth that He is with them.

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Some of us may be left scratching our heads. How can a lifetime plan be available only for a limited time?

The Quiet Confidence of God’s Presence

There’s no need to fear when the Father is near. Fear often comes from focusing on what’s beyond our control or understanding. Instead, faith redirects our attention to God’s unchanging nature. His presence provides stability and reassurance, even during uncertain times.

Knowing that the Father is with His people assures us that every season serves a purpose, every call is supported, and we are not facing uncertainty alone. His presence brings comfort and strength, encouraging His children to trust and keep moving forward, even without full understanding.

REFLECT & PRAY

Each child of the King is assured of the Father’s presence. There is no need to fear what is happening or where you are headed when the Father is with us.

Father, help me understand Your ways and trust Your timing. Strengthen me to walk by faith rather than by sight and teach me to rest in the certainty of Your presence. When fear rises and the path ahead feels uncertain, steady my heart with the assurance that You are with me and will faithfully guide me forward.

INSIGHT

Insight on Faith, Weakness, and the Knowledge of God

Moses was deeply troubled by the Father’s call and instructions. When he looked at himself, he saw no strength, readiness, or ability. Instead, he focused on his flaws, limitations, and past failures. He had a profound sense of inadequacy in the face of such a monumental task. His immediate reaction was essentially, “Why me?”

Yet beneath that question lay another more probing thought: “Why now?” Why had He waited so long? And why was Moses called at this moment? Yet beneath that question lay another more probing issue. The people of Israel had cried out for 400 years for deliverance: “Why now?” Why had He waited so long? Why was Moses being called at this moment?

The answer is actually quite simple. It took 400 years until the man who would redeem Israel from Egyptian bondage was born and prepared to do the work. After 40 years as a shepherd, he was finally ready. He met God face to face on Mount Sinai, and the rest is history.

The Challenge of Faith

In moments of fear and uncertainty, the Father confronts His people with a searching question that exposes the true condition of the heart.

Luke 8:25: “Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’”

This question does more than challenge fear; it redirects our focus. Faith involves looking beyond visible obstacles and trusting in God’s character, authority, and faithfulness. The Bible describes faith not as wishful thinking or mere hope that things will turn out well, but as a firm confidence in God’s promises.

Hebrews 11:1: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

Faith is deeply rooted in the profound truth of God’s promises; it is not an abstract concept detached from reality. Faith gives substance to our hopes, as it involves trusting in the One who speaks these promises. Even when circumstances appear uncertain, or the fulfillment of these promises is delayed, faith remains anchored in a divine certainty that transcends our immediate understanding.

Faith is Essential to Pleasing God

Faith is not optional in the life of the believer. It is essential for pleasing God and aligning with His will.

Hebrews 11:6 states, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

This scripture highlights that faith is the foundation of any genuine relationship with God. It begins with believing in His identity as He reveals Himself and continues with the belief that He responds to those who earnestly seek Him. Faith acknowledges human limitations while relying on divine sufficiency. As Charles Stanley wisely noted, “Faith declares our weakness while it proclaims the trustworthiness of God and His complete and willing ability to do what we cannot. A lack of faith insults God even as it puts foolish confidence in ourselves.”

Dependence on God and the Growth of Trust

Faith is a simple yet profound reliance on God. It begins with recognizing our limits and realizing that self-reliance can’t sustain obedience. To truly trust God, we must know Him; trust cannot grow in ignorance. Just as in human relationships, confidence builds as character is revealed, so it is spiritually. We can’t deeply trust God if we have only a shallow understanding of Him. Therefore, the apostle Peter stresses the importance of increasing our knowledge of the Father and Jesus Christ, recognizing that spiritual maturity is closely tied to relational understanding.

2 Peter 1:2-5:

“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.” Both the Father’s promise to Moses and Jesus’s promise to His disciples emphasize the same core truth: God’s people are never abandoned and left alone to complete their assignments. His presence energizes their courage, hope, and perseverance.

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© Dr. H 2026