Constant Presence

When our children were young, a friend loaned us his cabin on the beach in Florida. Most of those old cabins have been removed and high rises built in their place. Lots of things, like those seaside homes, have not remained. They are not constant. But the sea? That’s still there. It still laps the shore. Its sound is constantly audible. On a peaceful day, it’s saying “Shhh…” 

Shhh…do you hear it? It’s a soft sound, but it’s the sound of immense power. You can drown out the sound with other noises for a while, but when they stop, you hear it right away…that constant, flowing presence through every day and night.

It reminds me of the Holy Spirit, whose constant presence seems like a mighty ocean current, giving strength beyond my wildest dreams. Shhh…do you hear Him whispering softly to your soul? Or have the sounds of this old world distracted you? Listen. Look up. Trust him to always be there for you. He’s not going anywhere. But sometimes we have to be quiet. We need to pause from our busy activities and listen to the still, small voice that assures us of His love, His peace, His constant provision of what we need.

Jesus spent a lot of time at the seashore. I wonder what He reflected on when He heard the sound of the waves or gazed at the beauty of the water. Did He think of the words of Micah? “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, ESV). Or maybe the words of the Psalmist: “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea” (Psalm 93:4, KJV). Or maybe He thought of the Holy Spirit who was to come and indwell believers with His constant presence.

“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5, ESV). “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22, ESV).

Shh…….Do you hear it? The reminder of God’s presence? Sh…….Do you feel it? The overwhelming, never-ending reality of His love?

“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” from “A Song of Love”