DEVOTION//Peace in God's presence

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14).

A number of years ago, I was locked in a daily battle with my emotions. My heart kept telling me there was no evidence in my life of God's commitment to me. I felt alone and deserted by him. My emotions campaigned to convince me that I had been duped into believing the Bible's "lies."

Gospel truth

But the gospel rallied its forces to spotlight the Savior's empty cross and empty tomb. "Didn't the Son of God die to forgive all your sins?" the gospel asked? "Didn't he rise from the dead to prove that because he lives, you also will live?"

"Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes," I would answer. "But I don't feel like God is taking care of me. I don't feel like he is keeping his promises to me."

"I understand," grace answered. "But why is that a problem? Whether your emotions or all seven billion people on the planet deny God's commitment to you, the truth does not change. The truth is the truth no matter who denies it. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Hold on to the truth and don't pay attention to the yammering of your emotions."

Gospel victory

I thank God that in this multiple-months-long battle the gospel finally won.

It was through that battle that I learned: If we don't feel God's presence or peace, it's not because God is not active in our lives. He is always with us; so is his peace. Feeling God's presence doesn't make his presence real. God is keeping his promise to care for us, protect us, provide for us, and rescue us no matter how we feel about it.

"Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!" That's the truth that guarantees all God's promises must be kept. So don't pay attention to your protesting emotions. Trust the LORD -- Yahweh, the God of full, free, faithful, and forever grace -- when he says, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.