Embracing the Presence of God

Learning the Life Skill of Mindfulness

A very common sentiment I hear from people is that they do not feel the presence of God. Many describe feeling alone in life, abandoned by God, or unsure whether His nearness depends on something they are doing right or wrong. The result can be loneliness, insecurity, anxiety, powerlessness, hopelessness, and fear. Over time, those feelings may lead to agitation, phobias, or unhealthy coping mechanisms, including substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and eating disorders.

The skill of mindfulness is the ability to live in the present moment with a calm, comfortable awareness of your circumstances, of others, and of yourself. It can help you steady yourself in the midst of a panic attack, and it can also support you in ordinary moments like driving, sitting in an important meeting, or working through a challenging task. People who practice mindfulness regularly are often better equipped to respond with patience, experience fewer irritations, and enjoy life more fully.

When we apply this same skill to embracing the presence of God, we can begin by grounding ourselves in the truth of the moment: the sovereign Lord God of the universe, the very definition of love and grace, is always with me. Or perhaps more accurately, I am always in His presence. As Brother Lawrence learned in the 17th century, even the ordinary things we do can become acts of worship and sources of special joy when we remember that we are doing them for God and in His presence.

If this has been your struggle, please know you are not alone, and you are not failing because you have had a hard time sensing God’s nearness. Learning to embrace the presence of God is a skill that can be practiced with patience, gentleness, and grace. I would be honored to help you learn how to become more aware of His presence in the ordinary moments of life, so you can move from striving to receive His love into resting in the truth that you are already held by it.