Devotional:

There are seasons when God’s presence feels near and unmistakable, moments where peace washes over you or clarity breaks through the confusion. But there are also seasons where His presence feels hidden, silent, or distant.

Spiritual maturity is formed not only by experiencing God, but by trusting Him in the silence.

C.S. Lewis compared this to a child learning to walk:

“The presence of God is not the same as the sense of the presence of God.”

Jesus did not promise that you would always feel Him.
He promised that He would always be with you.

This changes everything:

In the confusion that tries to unsteady you

In the disappointment that tries to bring you down 

In the fear that tries to shake you

In the calling that feels unclear

In the loneliness you don’t talk about

In the unanswered prayer you still carry

He is there.
Not occasionally.
Not conditionally.
Not when you’re at your best.

He is there - Always.

Sometimes God’s presence is a whisper, not a wave. Sometimes it’s a rushing wind, not a breeze. Sometimes it’s endurance, not emotion.

But it is always real.

And the truth is this: You have never taken a single step alone. You may not sense Him at every moment, but His presence moves toward you like a steady river. In the unseen at times, but always moving, always sustaining, always near. 

Reflection:

Where have you mistaken God’s silence for His absence, and how might He be inviting you to trust His steady presence today?

Carry This With You:

God is close in the times you feel Him the least