Where Shall I Flee From Your Presence?

By Kathi Pelton

So often we hear believers make statements that seem to measure “God’s Presence” with us. If a worship set was moving and skilled, people will say, “The Lord’s presence showed up.” Or if it is not moving or skilled they might say, “I didn’t sense the Lord’s presence.”

That’s nonsense!

His presence is with us always— we cannot flee from his presence even if we wanted to. And we surely cannot create an atmosphere that causes his presence to show up or go away. His presence is SURE in the worst atmosphere and the best.

That does not mean that we cannot surrender to his Spirit in ways that invite him to accomplish the move and work that he desires in a place or a life. But either way— his presence is present.

Psalm 139 makes that clear,

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

His presence is so near to us that he knows our very thoughts— he knows what we are going to say before we say it— he knows when we sit and when we stand— and, “even if I make my bed in Sheol” HE IS THERE!

Sheol: darkness, Hell, the grave or pit, in a place of forgetfulness or silence.

We need to understand that we cannot hide from his presence and we cannot earn his presence— he is with us in the depths and in the heights. And in his presence is the fullness of salvation.

Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”

Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”

Deuteronomy 31:8: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed”

God’s presence will bring blessings, it will bring correction, it will lead you, protect you, hem you in, strengthen you, deliver you, bring you joy— the fullness of joy.

Let’s begin to live our lives in the full awareness of “God with us!” And let’s enter our church services knowing that his presence is there before a musical instrument is even played or any note has been sung. We are invited to draw near to him— and as we do we begin to “feel and experience his presence and all of the blessing and benefits of “God with us.”

The feelings are merely a manifestation of the truth of his presence with us. And in that place of keen awareness we are strengthened and moved. Our hearts and our souls are edified by a greater and more tangible awareness of the truth about his presence.

What good news it is to know that even in our darkest hour— he is with us. Even when we fall or fail his steadfast love and faithfulness is present to save us.

I can look back on how God relentlessly pursued me before I knew him and how, in the deepest darkness, he revealed his love and thoughts toward me.

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:6

His presence with us is too wonderful and beyond our ability to comprehend.