One of the more comforting and reassuring promises that God has given was the one he pledged to Moses in Exodus 33:14: My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

When I think of God’s presence, I’m reminded of the words of two authors:

• Oswald Chambers said: “Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence.”
• In a moment of praise to God, David said: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).”

The words of Chambers and David beg the question: If I live a joy-less life instead of a joy-filled life, is it because there’s a void in my relationship with God?

When God seems distant, and you feel down and out, it’s time to get up and invite God in. God reminds us that He dwells “… in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged (Isaiah 57:15).”

I encourage you to take Psalm 105:4 to heart and “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”