Just A Heartbeat Away From His Comforting Presence

Have you ever found yourself in the depths of despair, battling thoughts that spiral endlessly in your mind? Thoughts that convince you that your sins are insurmountable or that you’ve strayed too far for God to rescue you. Even worse: thoughts suggesting He wants nothing to do with you? I have.

When my father succumbed to cancer, I felt abandoned by God. Anger took root, and in my grief, I turned away from Him—I stopped praying, neglecting His Word, and skipping church. I lost sight of Him and everything that mattered. As I fled from God, darkness enveloped my world, whispering that I wasn’t worthy of His love and that He didn’t care.

Years later, I came to understand that God had never abandoned me. He was by my side, even in my darkest days. Psalm 139:7-10 reminds us that God will always be with us and will always be able to find us.. The scriptures recount the stories of believers who faced their own dark times, and God was there for each of them. Take Elijah, for example. He was hunted by Jezebel and found himself hiding in a cave, consumed by despair and wishing to die. Yet God sought him out and restored his spirit.

Then there’s Jonah, who was upset with God’s mercy toward Nineveh and tried to escape, only to end up in the belly of a fish, where God found him and brought him back to purpose. Adam and Eve tried to hide after their disobedience, but God sought them out, showing compassion even as they faced consequences by providing them with clothing made from animal skins. From their actions, the promise of our Savior, Jesus Christ, emerged.

Consider Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers and unjustly imprisoned. Throughout all of this, he never turned away from God nor complained. Instead, God was with him and lifted him up, eventually placing him as second in command to Pharaoh.

And what about me? God found me in a pit, lifted me out, restored my spirit, and called me to share my story—to offer hope to those who feel hurt, forsaken, or abandoned and think God is far away. He is present in our struggles, extending His hand, ready to rescue us from the storms of life, just like He did for Daniel and his friends.

For anyone feeling lost and believing God cannot see them, look up; His hands are there, ready to lift you. He is filled with grace and mercy. That’s why He sent His only Son to die for you and me—because of His unwavering love. The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 46:10 to “be still and know that I am God.” The Lord of Hosts is with us; He is El Roi, the God who sees you.

Navigating through despair can feel like being lost at sea during a raging storm. The towering waves of grief and doubt crash around you, obscuring anything but darkness. However, just as a lighthouse stands firm to guide lost ships back to safety, God’s love and presence can be that guiding light, even when we feel isolated and abandoned. It may take time to see it through the storm, but that beacon remains steadfast, waiting to lead us home.

Reflection: What situation in your life makes you feel like you’ve strayed too far, too distant from God for Him to bring you back? Why do you sometimes doubt His willingness to seek you out and help you? Always remember we are never too far gone for Him. He sees us, and He will never forsake us.

Here are a few Scriptures that assure us that God will never leave us.

• Psalm 118:6: “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

• Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• Joshua 1:5: “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
• Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
• Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
• Matthew 28:20: “…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Let’s take a moment to thank our Lord for His love and grace:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unwavering love and grace that sustain us each day. Thank You for never letting go of our hands, even when we feel far from Your reach. Your Word reassures us that You will never leave us or forsake us; You will leave the ninety-nine to seek out the one. Despite our imperfections, You gently guide us back to Your love, reminding us of the precious gift of Your forgiveness and mercy. Help us, Father, to keep our eyes on You and to hold tightly to Your hand, for You alone are our anchor, and it will hold steadfast through the storm. In times of feeling lost, remind us that You are Yahweh EL Roi, the God who sees us. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.

Reference:

Gonzalez, S. (2025). (Rainbow over the Sunset). [Photograph]. [Personal Collection]

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.