Hello! I know a lot of you had a three day weekend, so I hope it was fun and relaxing and anything else you wanted it to be! If it wasn't though, treat yourself this week! You deserve it after all the work you've put in this semester. Last weekend I went home (St. Simons) to see my family. My older sisters came, and I finally got to spend time with my grandparents since they got the vaccine! However, going home also brought back a lot of memories, because this time last year was when quarantine had just begun. I'm sure all of you remember the day when you were sent home for "two weeks" then spent the rest of your school year in your house. When I got home last weekend, getting an iced coconut latte from my favorite coffee shop reminded me of taking a break from calculus last March and going to the only place I was allowed to go. Tanning in my backyard on Friday reminded me of me trying to feel like it was summer when the beaches were closed last year. These memories I got weren't terrible, they were just weird, because literally who would have known that was going to be our reality for so long. Well, God knew, and he went with us through it all.
I've been doing a devotional the past few weeks about God's presence, and it has reassured me that God has been present from last March to this March. Psalm 139 starting in verse 7 says, "Where shall I go from your Spirit, or where shall I flee from your presence?... even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." Fill in the dots with "in a pandemic". Thankfully, now I can see that this is true. God has been present, and God has been working every single day of this horrific pandemic. Churches had to move online, but that lead to more people experiencing church. I was stuck at home for a few months, but I got to spend more time with my family before leaving to college. From March last year to March now, I can say with confidence that God's hand has lead me and God's hand has held me every single day to now. Where has he lead you? When has he held you?
One great thing about God is that he wants to be with us. There's not a moment in time where he wants leave you. Think about the Garden of Eden. God initially created humans to be completely in His presence. God walked among Adam and Eve in this garden. Unfortunately, when Adam and Eve betrayed him, they had to be separated because of their sin. However, God didn't leave it at that. He desired for sinful people to be in his presence, so he sent his perfect son to die for them, showing the greatest act of forgiveness for the ones who betrayed him. This isn't just a story of Adam and Eve, it's a story of you and me. We are the imperfect people who constantly get to be in the presence of our perfect God. There will be times, such as a frustrating pandemic, where you might want to turn away from Him, but He will never turn away from you. He is ever-present, wanting to show himself to you in every situation. I've noticed that when I don't feel God's presence, it's because of my heart, not his. But when I am pursuing God, I see him everywhere. I see him in the sunrises and sunsets, in the pretty trees as I drive to Athens, in my small group, in the guitar songs my dad sings and the piano music me or my sisters play, and in my friend's stories. Yet I also see him when I'm frustrated with someone or myself, when I'm low on sleep and drowning in school work, when everything about my week stresses me out, and when I know I've made a mistake. While he is there in the beautiful scenery, joyful days, and sweet moments, he is also with me when I'm not my best, comforting me and giving me peace. God was with me through all of the ups and downs from March last year to now, and I'm so thankful for that. I guess I just want to encourage y'all that God will be present in every situation that is before you. He goes before you, behind you, and most importantly beside you. I'm praying you'll be able to see him this week, whether you feel like you're on the mountain or in the valley!
Matthew 28:20- "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of age."
Beautiful Emma!❤️