God Who Stays

In times of hardship, believers often question God’s presence in their lives, assuming that misfortunes occur because He is absent. But God is omnipresent—He is always with us, which is why He is called Immanuel. During the Christmas season, some people acknowledge this truth, recalling the prophecy from Isaiah that speaks of Immanuel, “God with us.” Yet, strangely, just a week later, as the New Year begins, many grow anxious about the days ahead and seem to forget Immanuel. Instead, they shift their focus to another name—Ebenezer—declaring that the God who has helped them thus far will continue to guide them in the year to come. While this understanding of God is meaningful, sadly, many believers tend to invoke the name Ebenezer only when they feel the need, rather than living in a constant awareness of His enduring presence.

God Never Forsakes Us

Although believers often seek God only in times of need, He promises to be present with them at all times. The Psalmist affirms that God is close to the brokenhearted, not to imply He is distant from others, but to encourage and reassure those in pain of His constant presence. Similarly, Paul declares in Acts 17:27 that God is not far from any one of us. This truth is confirmed in God’s own words to Joshua, just as He was with Moses:

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Joshua 1:5 (NIV)

In today’s context, some are misled by religious leaders who claim exclusive access to God’s presence, suggesting that others must approach God through them. But God’s presence is not limited—it is the same for saints, believers, and even sinners. Failing to understand this foundational truth, people often believe that God is absent from wicked rulers and pray for their downfall. However, even King Saul, despite his disobedience and spiritual blindness, was appointed by God and given the throne.

During the reign of the sinful King Ahaz, God still extended His promise of protection against enemy threats. Yet Ahaz’s hardened heart kept him from receiving or valuing God’s grace. Even when Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, God gave one anyway—not for Ahaz’s benefit, but for ours, pointing forward to the coming of His Son (Isaiah 7:14).

God disciplines and humbles His people, but He never abandons them. He remains with them—sharing in their suffering, carrying their shame, protecting and guiding them. At times, He may allow them to fall into the hands of their enemies, not out of rejection, but to awaken their hearts and draw them back to Him. Sadly, people often interpret these hardships as signs of abandonment. In desperation, they cry out for God’s return and plead for mercy, fearing disgrace before their enemies and unaware of His constant presence with them.

God Was Replaced By The Ark

This misconception of God’s abandonment arose from the people’s belief that His presence was tied exclusively to the Ark of the Covenant. While God had indeed instructed them to build the Ark as a symbol of His power and saving acts, they eventually began to treat the Ark itself as God. So when it was captured by their enemies, they were overwhelmed with fear. In their desperation to recover it, they failed to realise that God’s presence was never limited to an object. When their enemies mocked them with the question, “Where is your God?” they were left disoriented and speechless.

We face a similar risk today. Far too often, we trade the vibrant, living presence of God for external religious expressions, believing He dwells only in churches or among spiritual events. But we forget the fundamental truth: we are the dwelling place of God.

Whatever form our suffering takes—be it darkness, demonic torment, sickness, sin, or sorrow—God remains with us. In times of trial, we often turn to fellow believers for support and build bonds through fellowship. Though their help may be genuine, it can fall short. In the depths of suffering, human words—however well-intended—often fail to direct the hurting soul toward the peace of God, who is already present in their pain.

Let us not fall into the illusion that God resides only within church walls, waiting for us to appear on Sundays, burdened with sin and seeking comfort in others’ words. Sometimes those very words deepen our wounds instead of healing them. It is only God, present with us in the depths of grief, who can offer peace that the world cannot replicate.

Even when we do not feel Him, the truth remains: the Spirit of God—the very presence once confined to the Holy of Holies—now dwells within us. And when His comfort breaks through, it transcends every other form of consolation.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

The truth is, once God enters our hearts, He does not leave easily. His presence remains with us through every moment of life—faithful, patient, and unshakable. Though we are all sinners, we often separate ourselves from those society labels as sinners, waiting for God’s judgment to fall on them. Yet the truth is this: just as God does not forsake us in our sin, He extends the same grace to those who are judged and rejected by the so-called righteous.

If we truly allow God’s love to work in our hearts, we cannot undermine others because of their sin. Jesus came into the world to dwell among us while we were still sinners, bearing our sins on our behalf. Therefore, standing apart from others in self-righteousness and publicly praying for “those sinners” will not bring about the results God desires. Because the God who is with us is also with them, and hence we should be careful not to underestimate others.

God Still Suffers

Jesus, who bore our sins and endured the suffering of the Cross, still shares in our suffering today. Yet, as believers, we rarely consider sharing in the pain of those who do not know God. Instead of compassion, we often call for God’s judgment on them for their idolatry. But God, in His mercy, continues to bear the suffering of the Gentiles, who—due to their ignorance—bring hardship upon themselves. In the midst of their self-inflicted pain, our unseen Saviour remains with them, working to save them from destruction.

We, however, remain in our comfort zones, offering prayers and fasting from a distance. While these acts may seem sacrificial, they hardly compare to the real suffering others endure. If we are willing to step into their world and share in their pain, our compassionate God—who already suffers with them—will surely raise them up from their despair, lifting them alongside us.

Stepping out of our comfort zones should not be taken only in a literal sense, for today we live in greater comfort than even the kings and prophets of ancient times. What we truly need is to break free from our spiritual comfort zones in order to reach the unreached. Many today find spiritual security in religious rituals and communities, but tragically, those outside their belief system are often rejected rather than welcomed.

There is a wide difference between mixing with sinners as one of them and engaging with them as forgiven sinners. If we associate with them as fellow sinners, God may wait for us to separate ourselves before He acts. But if we go to them like sheep among wolves—filled with God’s love and moved by faith—then our all-powerful and merciful God will work through us to deal with the wolves.

When the Spirit of God, through Elijah, declared a drought, Elijah himself had to endure its consequences—he too went without food and water. God did not spare him from the effects of the people’s sin but gave him the grace to endure, so that through his hardship, God might call His people back to Himself. In the same way, Jesus suffered for our salvation. The writer of Hebrews reminds us to reflect deeply on Christ’s sacrifice and be mindful of what He endured for our sake. The presence of God and His love endure forever.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:2-3(NIV)