Walk in the Present with God
The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.
Psalm 102:28
In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote: “Almost certainly God is not in time. His life does not consist of moments one following another . . . . Ten-thirty—and every other moment from the beginning of the world—is always present for Him.” Still, waiting seasons often feel endless. But as we learn to trust God, the eternal Maker of time, we can accept the reality that our fragile existence is secure in His hands.
The psalmist, lamenting in Psalm 102, admits his days are as fleeting as “the evening shadow” and withering grass, while God “endures through all generations” (vv. 11-12). The writer, weary from suffering, proclaims that God sits “enthroned forever” (v. 12). He affirms that God’s power and consistent compassion reach beyond his personal space (vv. 13-18). Even in his despair (vv. 19-24), the psalmist turns his focus on the power of God as Creator (v. 25). Though His creations will perish, He will remain the same for eternity (vv. 26-27).
When time seems to be standing still or dragging on, it’s tempting to accuse God of being late or non-responsive. We can grow impatient and frustrated with remaining still. We can forget He’s chosen every single cobblestone on the path He’s planned for us. But He never leaves us to fend for ourselves. As we live by faith in the presence of God, we can walk in the present with God.
By Xochitl Dixon
REFLECT & PRAY
Loving God, please teach us to be present in life, refusing to worry about tomorrow as You affirm Your constant presence.
How can acknowledging God as the Maker of time help you trust Him when His timing doesn’t meet your preference? How can living in the present give you peace?
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 102 is a prayer written by an unnamed individual. The psalm is broken into stanzas and reflects the author crying out to God (vv. 1-2), describes the situation of distress (vv. 3-11), acknowledges that God hears his cries (vv. 12-17), declares the future praise of the Lord (vv. 18-22), and concludes with a summary (vv. 22-28). The psalm doesn’t contain any specific reference to repentance, but it later became one of seven penitential (confession) psalms (Pss. 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143) used in the early church. Julie Schwab
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