Bible Readings: Psalms 139:7-12
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
A Reflection
Playing hide and seek with toddlers can be quite entertaining; their concept of hiding follows the theory that. ‘If I can’t see you, you can’t see me’, hence they will curl up somewhere quite visible but with their hands over their eyes and assume you can’t see them.
At other times, though, they will play quite happily in a different room to their parents (or grandparents) confident in the knowledge that they are close by if they need them.
I think we’re inclined to be a bit like toddlers in our relationship with God. Sometimes we try and hide from him and assume he can’t see us, at other times we are re-assured that, although we can’t see him, we are confident that he is there if there is a crisis.
The truth is that God is present with us wherever we are and that, however hard we try, we cannot hide from him. There is nowhere we can go, nothing that can happen to us, and nothing we can do that can take us out of God’s presence. And he is not there just for the times of crisis, he is also there to share with us in the ordinary things of life.
This could be quite daunting if you have a guilty conscience, if it were not for the fact that his love for you is unconditional, and that whatever you do in this life you will find forgiveness in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
But in these difficult times, I find it reassuring to know that whatever we face, however low we might feel, however dark the world might seem, we are not alone; God is with us. With one hand he will hold us fast and with the other he will guide us safely into the light.
A Prayer
Holy Spirit of God, thank you that you are always with me.
Reveal to me, I pray, the love of the Father and the forgiveness of the Son, and lead me today to walk in the light of your presence.
Amen
Holy Spirit, living breath of God.
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