God’s Presence Strengthens Us
Open Your Bible
Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Psalm 46:1-11, Zephaniah 3:17, Isaiah 40:9-11, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Timothy 4:16-18
BY Nicole Smithee
When I was four years old, I broke my collarbone. I fell off my bed, landed on my shoulder, and heard a snap. In my four short years of life, I had never felt anything like the excruciating pain suddenly pulsating through my body. Immediately, I began crying. My mom called my dad at work to let him know what happened, and then she rushed me to the emergency room.
I remember crying and crying and crying. My mom tried to comfort me. My big sister tried to help me. The nurses tried to reassure me everything was going to be okay. Unfortunately, it didn’t help. I cried in the car, the waiting room, the exam room. I cried the whole time the nurses prepared me for X-Rays.
Then it happened. My dad flung open the doors to the exam room. He had left work early and rushed to the emergency room to get to me. He entered the room, his eyes met mine, and I immediately stopped crying. I was still in pain, still hurting, still in need, but my father’s strong and loving presence in the room changed everything for me. My dad walked into my room, and when he walked in, fear walked out.
In life, we will face bumps and bruises, broken bones and broken hearts. No one is exempt from difficulties, disappointments, and trials. Our hope is not in the absence of trouble, but in the presence of God. His presence strengthens us, even when we are at our weakest.
God is truly in our midst (Zephaniah 3:17). When we acknowledge His presence and turn to Him, He becomes a refuge for us and a present help in our troubles (Psalm 46:1). He tends to us and protects us as a good shepherd tends to his flock (Isaiah 40:9–11). We don’t need to grit our teeth and bear the difficulties we face alone, and we certainly don’t need to navigate the storms of life in our own inner strength and moral compass. Instead, God’s presence becomes the source of our power and courage.
What troubles are you facing today? What difficulties are seeking to rob you of your peace and joy? Today, I pray you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your heavenly Father has walked into the room of your life and He’s not going anywhere! I pray that you would know the sheer joy and complete peace of having God close to you, lavishing His love on you, relentlessly pursuing you, and fiercely protecting you. I pray that you would know God is with you, and His presence would dismantle the power of fear and fatigue in your life!
97 thoughts on "God’s Presence Strengthens Us"
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Been having a week where the enemy kept throwing lies into my ears, making me doubt and fearful often – the only thing that got me out of it over and over was God’s truth that He’s always with me, and the verses here were being etched onto my soul!!! So thankful.
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To Laura Diane and Rhonda J…and any others who have struggles in their marriages,
I have a book, “Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe” by Sharon Jaynes, that I use to guide my prayers for Steve. Because we all go through the bumps and storms in our marriages and I have learned that when I pray for him it’s easier to love him and not hold grudges. I’m not saying we don’t still have our differences and snap at each other, but each morning I pull that book out and pray for him again, and the anger I’ve been holding on to doesn’t seem to keep festering in my heart. And sometimes I really begin my prayers grudgingly…..but I end them with a loving heart.This study is really good…perfect timing for me and all of you as well.
Praying for you Mia Faith during these two days of services for your husband, that you would feel God’s presence and His arms holding you close.
Hugs to all ❤️
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Wow! What a powerful, hope-filled devotional today!
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Good Morning sweet She’s. Nothing stops us! Thank you Kelly (neo) for suggesting to go to HRT for the scripture reading. Gotta run now. Just wanted to check in. Happy Thursday sweet She’s! So glad tomorrow is FRIDAY!
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@Sarah D. – continued prayers for God’s peace in your heart concerning this “friend”…Have you thought of asking him if he wants to go grab a coffee? Maybe he’s struggling with the same things you are. It couldn’t hurt and maybe it would “launch” things. Or if he is not the least bit interested, at least you’d know and could move on.
@Meme Faye – what an awful tragedy! Praying for the family and for your town.
@Kristina (in the Ukraine) – I have been praying for your country and all believers that might be there, it’s good to have a name to go with my prayers. Continued prayers for peace, for the war to end, and protection for you and your countrymen.
Have a blessed day today sisters – Shalom!
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Good morning ladies!! Yesterday was a sweet day…I got to do a chapel lesson for our Pre-K, and it felt like a full circle moment, because I shared about an internship had that sparked my interest for teaching. So thankful for the Lord answering my prayer and that I get to share His love with these kids!!
Would love continued prayers. Some days are better than others, but my roommate is now official, with a boyfriend, and I didn’t realize how hard it would be for me. I am happy for her, and yet I really wish I could be happier. But it stings, and I really find it so strange that I can be so joyful with my job and enjoying it, while having this longing to know whether my “friend” likes me or not, when he’ll ask me out…etc. The weekends tend to be hard because my roommate goes out with her bf and I’m home alone. I’ll be hanging out with some other girlfriends this weekend so that should be good. Thank you all for your prayers! -
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