God Is With Us All
By Whitney Hopler
“May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.” – 1 Kings 8:57, NIV
Standing in the bell tower of St. Anne’s Church Shandon in Cork, Ireland – an active church since 1722 – I wondered if any of my ancestors had worshiped at this church. A DNA test had revealed that I had a significant amount of Irish ancestry, and that more of those ancestors came from County Cork than any other Irish county. However, my research didn’t uncover the details I’d hoped to learn about the specific people who were my ancestors. I wanted to know who they were individually, and what their life stories were. While I was grateful to experience the place where they lived, I was disappointed by not knowing who they were as people. I thought about the few individuals I did know – my mother, grandmother, and others in recent generations. They made a mix of good and bad decisions, but in the end, their faith in God prevailed. No matter what, God was truly with them. That knowledge gave me peace as I selected a song from the sheet music available for visitors to ring the church’s bells. Soon, I was ringing the bells to the refrain of “All Things Bright and Beautiful” by Cecil Alexander. The sound of the bells rang with music from a song with a beautiful message: “All things bright and beautiful,/All creatures great and small,/All things wise and wonderful:/The Lord God made them all.” Even though I didn’t know the details of my ancestors’ lives, I did know that God made all of us to be part of his family together. I believed that God was present with my ancestors, and I felt God’s presence with me as I played the song. Ringing the bells became an act of worship to the God who is with us all!
In 1 Kings 8:57, Solomon is praying at the dedication of the temple. He asks God to continue to be with him, just as God was with his ancestors. This verse invites us to reflect on God’s constant faithfulness throughout generations. The same God who walked with everyone in the Bible and all of our own ancestors promises to be with us today. Solomon’s prayer is not just a wish but a confident request. It’s grounded in the history of God’s unchanging love for everyone he has made.
We live in a world where change is constant and often unpredictable. Relationships, jobs, health, and other circumstances can all change unexpectedly. Yet, in the middle of all this uncertainty, we have God’s unchanging promise to never leave us nor forsake us. This promise means that we can count on God to be there for us in every moment – during good and bad times alike. It means that we can notice God’s presence with us and experience God’s love for us in any circumstances. The same God who was faithful to our ancestors remains faithful to us. This truth calls us to trust God more deeply, rely on God more fully, and walk with God more closely.
This verse reminds us to pay attention to God’s presence with us. We can find God by intentionally seeking him every day, and celebrating the wonder of God's work in our lives whenever we notice it. Then, when we go through challenges that make it seem as if God is distant, we can know by faith that God is still with us. God promises to be with us and all of our loved ones for all time. So, let’s hold onto the truth that God is with us all – now and always.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you reflect on how God is with us all, reflect on these questions:
- How do you experience God's presence in your daily life?
- What are some moments in your life when you felt God was especially close to you?
- In what ways can you remind yourself of God’s constant faithfulness during times of uncertainty?
- How does knowing that God will never leave nor forsake you influence your decisions and actions?
- How can you encourage others to trust in God’s constant presence?
Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 31:6
Joshua 1:9
Hebrews 13:5
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 23:4
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PKpix
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