God's Presence in Our Pain
“Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 33:15
I have a quick question for you. What’s your “go to” when you’re facing an incredibly difficult situation? I mean, what’s your very first response when you're emotionally drained or just in a really bad place in your life?
Don’t think of the Sunday school or “PC” answer—what do you really do or think? Who or where do you turn to ease the pain? What habits comfort you?
Let’s face it y’all, sometimes we just feel like we are in a wilderness place—going nowhere, impatient, exhausted, deserted from our comforts, and just downright discontented. And, if we’re honest sometimes, we turn to unhealthy habits or patterns that are clearly out of the will of God. 🙋🏽
Taking Some Cues from Moses in the Wilderness
I’ve been in that place several times before, but the Lord brought me to a passage in Exodus 33 that really challenged me. While in the midst of the difficult journey in the wilderness with the Israelites, Moses told God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Say what now? 🤔 Exhaustion. Impatience. Wilderness. And yet, he still he says, don’t let us leave from here.
Let’s unpack that “here” for just a second.
The Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt and were journeying to the Promised Land (Canaan) flowing with milk and honey. They had traveled from places like the Wilderness of Shur (Exodus 15), Marah, the Wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16), and were now in the Wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 33). They had experienced hunger, thirst, and desperation. In their impatience, they disobeyed God by creating an idol god, so the Lord punished them for their rebellion (Exodus 32:35).
In chapter 33, the Lord then told Moses to lead the Israelites to a new land, but at this point, I would surmise that they were not in a terribly good place—they had not made it to their final destination and were probably still recovering and in anguish from the punishment of God. They were also discouraged because God told Moses that He wouldn’t be in their midst on this journey because of their stubbornness and rebellion (Exodus 33:3).
Moses was pleading to God for help (Exodus 33:12-13); he needed the Lord to guide him. God, in turn told him, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” And, despite his circumstances, despite being in that wilderness place, Moses still cried out to God and said, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15) Moses was so captivated by God, that even though they were in the wilderness (mentally and physically) and eager to reach their destination, he didn’t want to make a move without the presence of God.
"Moses was so captivated by God, that even though they were in the wilderness (mentally and physically) and eager to reach their destination, he didn’t want to make a move without the presence of God."
Wow, is that always our response? I know it’s not always my reaction when I’m in a difficult situation.
Our Response to Pain & Impatience
Sometimes, you may not be wandering in a physical wilderness like the Israelites, per se, but the pain or the anguish of waiting for something to manifest in your life can make you feel as if you are in a mental wilderness of sorts. So, in our desperation or impatience, we try to remove ourselves from an uncomfortable “wilderness place” without the provision of God. We may not explicitly say it, but our actions clearly say,“God, I can handle this,” or “God, I got this.”
Though the Lord may not have released you from that “wilderness place” yet, you have simply checked out mentally due to impatience. You’ve taken that job without His guidance, or you’ve rushed into that relationship or business endeavor too quickly, or you’ve said, “yes” to something you were clearly supposed to say “no” to. Maybe you’ve even attempted to numb the pain to try to leave that “wilderness place” in an unhealthy manner. Whatever it may be, you’ve said, “God, I’m tired of this place.”
A Better Way
I know it’s hard, but I encourage you to seek the Lord’s guidance before you attempt to leave that uncomfortable place.
Ask God:
What are you teaching me in this “wilderness place”?
What is the purpose of my pain or waiting?
Who might be blessed from my testimony of this trial? Show me, God.
Am I drawing further away or closer to You in this "wilderness place"?
Cry Out to God:
Despite the challenges I’m facing, despite my feelings—do not release me from this place that I am in until You are ready for me to move because you said in your Word (John 15:5), apart from You, I can do nothing.
Draw me into your presence, Jesus; give me rest in this season of waiting.
Your will be done in this season—beyond my discomfort.
Get glory out of my life in this place, Holy Spirit!
"Draw me into your presence, Jesus; give me rest in this season of waiting."
Listen, I know it’s hard to be in a difficult place for far too long in a place you thought you were never supposed to be in the first place! But trust God. He loves you with an everlasting love and will guide you on this journey. Psalms 16:11a says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your Presence is the fullness of joy…”
"He loves you with an everlasting love and will guide you on this journey. "
You see Moses knew that beautiful, transformational presence of God. He hadn’t just heard of the presence of the Lord, he had experienced it (Exodus 3). He had stood on holy ground before. God had spoken to him on the mountaintop. So naturally, when the Lord asked him to do something of great importance, he pleaded for the Lord’s presence before he made a move. God's presence is life-giving and life-changing! Cling to it; rest in it.
Trust God with Your Whole Heart
I encourage you to take some cues from Moses. Don’t try to move before the Holy Spirit says move. Don't give in to the pain and attempt to run from God due to impatience. Attempting to leave that "wilderness place" without the guidance of Your Heavenly Father could leave you in a miserable (or perhaps, even worse) place of guilt, shame, or regret--a place where you never intended to be.
Trust Him with your pain. Trust Him with the wait. Trust Him with your whole heart. Psalms 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord, Be Strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD.” It’s no coincidence that the Psalmist said, “wait for the Lord” two times in one verse. Our proclivity is to make things happen. Go, do, fix, act! But listen for the voice of God. Let His words wash over you like a cool, springtime rain. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign; surrender to His will and rest in His presence.
Questions to Consider
Are you in a “wilderness place” ready to make a move without God’s guidance? Can you set aside time this week to mediate on the Word of God and and ask the Lord for peace and guidance?
Think of someone who may be in a difficult "wilderness place" in his or her life right now. How can you encourage this person through Christ?
Verses on God's Presence
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”- Psalms 16:11 NKJV
“This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” - I John 3:19-20 NIV
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” - Acts 3:18 NKJV
Mediation Song on God’s Presence
If you don’t take any advice from this devotional, please at least listen to the words of the beautiful song below and know that the presence of the Lord can give you rest, guidance, and hope.
"Holy Spirit" by Francesca Battistelli
Blog post written by: Meredith B.L. Anderson, Ph.D.
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