How to Feel God’s Presence in Your Life
Not long ago, I texted a friend and told her about long days in a house filled with noisy children. “I want to know how to feel God’s presence when life mostly feels overwhelming,” I vented.
Her response came seasoned with wisdom. First, she reminded me that regardless of whether I feel God’s presence or not, his presence is always with me. “Feelings are futile,” she offered. “Instead of aiming to feel God’s presence, what if you aimed to be fully present to the moments unfolding around you?”
She then offered the following six words: “Breathe deeply, love deeply, laugh deeply.”
These words have echoed in my mind since she sent them to me.
How to Feel God’s Presence by Being Present
No matter what your season looks like, let’s take a look at how being fully present in our moments can help us experience God’s presence in deeper ways. I invite you to join me in our little country home, and we’ll explore the three admonitions my friend shared with me as a means of experiencing God’s presence by being present.
1. Keep breathing deeply.
As I write these words to you today, it has taken two hours to complete 26 minutes of a 30-minute workout on the treadmill. I was hoping to finish a writing project while working out, and I’ve been sparsely picking away at this project, all while climbing off the machine no less than a dozen times for the following interruptions:
Little Aiden woke up for the day (and needed a bath and a meal before joining me beside the treadmill in the basement).
There was a fight upstairs over what to watch on TV (followed by a mandate to turn off all screens).
Someone spilled grape juice on the floor.
Someone couldn’t get his shirt turned from inside out.
Little Aiden was tired of being on the basement floor.
A stink bug appeared in the sink.
The batteries on someone’s vibrating toothbrush died.
Another fight broke out over missing chocolate candy.
Aiden needed a diaper change . . .
I could continue, but you catch my drift.
Most of the time I feel like I’m being pulled in a dozen different directions all at once.
If you can relate, perhaps we need to stand together and just breathe.
Breathe slowly.
Breathe deeply.
Remember Eternity
The work projects might not get done perfectly or in a timely way, but in the light of eternity, it won’t matter as much as it seems right now.
The work projects might not get done perfectly or in a timely way, but in the light of eternity, it won’t matter as much as it seems right now. #hope #slowingdown Click To TweetThe kids might not get the education they would have received from trained professionals, but they will eventually catch up.
You or a loved one might be ill. The illness might take a turn for the worst. Things might not end well.
Breathe anyway. Step back. Take a long breath. Repeat.
Cry out to God.
Run to his arms.
He sees, and he knows. He is still in control.
Clamming up and forgetting to breathe won’t help a single thing anyway.
2. Keep loving deeply.
Love takes on many shapes and forms.
It looks like gentleness in our speech, care in our hearts, and intention in our minds.
It looks like slowing to enjoy those closest to us and making efforts to reach the lonely and isolated. Do you want to learn how to feel God’s presence? Aim to live a life of love. In doing so, you will partner with the Creator.
Meanwhile, remind yourself that regardless of whether you feel his presence, God will never leave your side.
3. Keep laughing deeply.
Maybe what we all need most is summed up in the last two words of my friend’s admonition: Laugh deeply.
Find what is good around you, give thanks, and laugh hard.
Intentionally pursue joyful activities.
Blow bubbles.
Fly kites.
Skip stones.
Push little ones on swings.
Turn off the news channel and indulge in a comedy.
As a mentor once stated when I fell ill with a long assignment to die to self on the couch for close to a year, This too shall pass. (Read about my illness here.)
If we keep our hearts close to the Giver of all things good, we will emerge on the other side looking a bit more like him.
A Free Devotional to Help You Learn How to Feel God’s Presence:
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Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
