If God is with us, who can stand against us?

Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” Psalms 139: 7-11

I wish I could be the person I imagine myself to be.   

Now, come on.   We all think the same thing.   We all think we’re really handsome or pretty.   The image we have of ourselves is one with washboard abs and flowing hair.   We all think that people should always stop what they’re doing and hinge on our every word.   We all at one time or another said, “Boy, I’m thankful I don’t have all those grey hairs.”   Or “Wow!  Look at that poor girl with all the freckles!”   Or “Yep.  He needs to lose a few pounds.”   

In our heads we’re as attractive as the best actors and as smart as the most brilliant scientists.   I don’t think anyone ever wakes up in the morning and says, “I’m the ugliest person ever.”   Now I’m not saying that we don’t wish for better things.   Hair that doesn’t look like we’ve stuck our finger in an electrical socket.   Noses that don’t look like a bird’s beak or bodies that aren’t described as “plump” or “big-boned.”   

The same thing applies to our spiritual lives.   Sometimes I even think that I’ve reached a spiritual plateau and have learned just about all I can about how God works in this world.   Then, I see God in a whole new light.   

When King David wrote Psalm 139 I think he probably thought more of himself than he really was.   His eyes were opened to the glory and majesty of God in new ways.   He saw God in the sunrise.   And then he saw God in the sunset.   He even saw God in the middle of the night.   

He saw God in the lowest valley and when he struggled and strained to get himself to the top, there was God at the highest peak.   

God is waiting for David when he thought deep philosophical thoughts.  And God was there tapping his foot when sometimes David just zoned out.   God was there when David was born and God held him in His arms when he passed from this world.    

Just when David thought he saw everything God had to offer, just when David thought he knew what it was all about; just when David imagined himself to be more than what he really was; that’s when it happened.   

That’s when he saw God.   

And it was humbling.   

However you see yourself this day, do yourself a favor.   Be humble.   God is waiting there too. 

Let us pray. 

Our Precious God.   We thank You today for Your faithfulness and Your mercy and grace. You're always there when we need You. You've never turned us away and You've never failed us. You've never failed to fulfill Your promises to us and to Your world. In our troubles and trials and when the road seemed long, You've been right there with us and You've helped us through, and we give You thanks and praise today.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.