By Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Text: John 8:29 (KJV): “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him,” (KJV).

Beloved, one of the greatest questions that can arise in the heart of a believer is this: “Is God always with me?” There are moments when the answer appears obvious. When doors open, prayers are answered, provisions come, and everything seems to be moving in the right direction, we easily say: “God is with me.” But there are other moments when circumstances become difficult, when the heavens seem silent, when prayers appear unanswered, when trouble surrounds us, and when we begin to ask: “Lord, where are You? Are You still with me?”

Our opening scripture gives us a powerful assurance. Jesus said: “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone.” The Lord Jesus knew the reality of the Father’s presence. He knew that the Father was with Him, even though He would face rejection, persecution, suffering, and the cross.

This teaches us an important truth: the presence of God is not determined by the condition of our circumstances. God can be with you when everything is going well, and God can equally be with you when everything appears to be going in the wrong direction.

Many people think that if God is with them, they will never experience trouble. But the Bible does not teach that. Rather, the Bible teaches that God will be with His people amid trouble.

David declared in Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”

Notice that David said: “Though I walk through the valley.” He did not say that he would never enter the valley. He understood that there would be seasons of darkness, difficulty, uncertainty and pain. But his confidence was not in the absence of the valley. His confidence was in the presence of God: “for thou art with me.”

Child of God, perhaps you are passing through a valley today. Perhaps you have prayed and have not yet seen the answer. Perhaps you are facing a situation that has made you wonder whether God has forgotten you. I want you to know that God has not abandoned you.

The silence of God does not mean the absence of God. There are times when God may not explain what He is doing, but He remains faithful. There are times when you cannot trace His hand, but you can trust His heart. The fact that you do not understand your circumstances does not mean that God has lost control of your life.

Isaiah 43:2 gives us this wonderful promise: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

God did not say, “if thou passest through the waters.” He said: “When thou passest through the waters.” He knows that His children will encounter difficult seasons. He knows there will be rivers to cross and fires to pass through. But He promises: “I will be with thee.”

Consider the three Hebrew children—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to bow before the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar because of their faithfulness to God, and they were thrown into a burning fiery furnace.

If someone had looked at their situation, he might have concluded that God had abandoned them. But God was there with them!

Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and said: “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt,” (Daniel 3:25).

What a testimony! God did not keep them from entering the furnace, but He entered the furnace with them.

The presence of God is greater than the problem you are facing. Jesus’ disciples experienced this when they were caught in a great storm. The wind was contrary, the waves were rising, and fear filled their hearts. Yet Jesus was with them.

Matthew 8:26 says: “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

The disciples thought the storm would destroy them, but Jesus was in the vessel. As long as Christ was with them, the storm could not have the final word.

Hebrews 13:5 declares: “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”These words should strengthen every discouraged heart: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

God is not like men. Men may promise and fail. Friends may disappoint you. People may abandon you when you need them most, but God remains faithful.

The Psalmist asked in Psalm 139:7: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”

There is nowhere you can go where God cannot reach you. You cannot run beyond His knowledge. You cannot hide beyond His sight. You cannot fall so deeply that His hand cannot reach you.

However, while we rejoice in the assurance of God’s presence, there is another important question we must ask: “Are you walking with God?”

God desires fellowship with man. He does not want us to merely know Him; He wants us to know Him personally.

Amos 3:3 asks: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”If you desire to enjoy fellowship with God, you must walk in obedience with Him. Sin must not become your lifestyle. Disobedience must not become your habit. You cannot deliberately live in rebellion against God and expect to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him.

Our opening text gives us an important principle. Jesus said: “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Jesus lived to please the Father. Likewise, if we want to walk closely with God, we must desire to please Him.

There may be someone reading this article, who once walked closely with God, but has gradually drifted away. Perhaps prayer has become difficult. Perhaps the Bible no longer excites you as it once did. Perhaps sin has entered your life and weakened your fellowship with God.

The good news is that God is calling you back. James 4:8 says: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

Moses understood the importance of God’s presence. When God was leading Israel, Moses said in Exodus 33:15: “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”

Moses understood that the greatest blessing was not merely the promised land. The greatest blessing was the presence of God.

What is the value of having money without God? What is the value of possessing earthly success, while losing your soul? What is the value of gaining the whole world and spending eternity away from God?

Jesus asked in Mark 8:36: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

Beloved, do not allow the pursuit of earthly things to make you lose the presence of God.

If you have Christ, you have hope. If you have Christ, you have a Saviour. If you have Christ, you have eternal life. If you have Christ, you have One who will never abandon you.

Jesus said in John 6:37: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Come to Him today. Whatsoever your past might have been, come! Whatsoever your failures might have been, come! Whatsoever your disappointments might have been, come! Christ is still calling.

To the believer, who is already walking with God, do not be discouraged because of what you are passing through. Your present situation is not the conclusion of your story.

Keep praying, keep believing and keep trusting. Keep obeying. Keep walking with God.

There may be tears today, but joy is coming. There may be a battle today, but victory is possible. There may be darkness around you, but God is still your light.

So, is God always with you? If you belong to Christ and walk with Him, you can rest upon His unfailing promise: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”