Even There
O LORD, you examine me and know me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it.
You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.
Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,
and settle down on the other side of the sea,
even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
Psalm 139:8-10, NET
We are journeying through Psalm 139. To read last week’s reflection, click here.
Well, folks, God is everywhere. Are you looking for Him today or trying to ignore Him? Either way, He’s right beside you wherever you find yourself.
For some, this might fill you with joy and comfort. For others, it may provoke confusion or even anger.
That might have something to do with what Ignatius of Loyola called consolation and desolation in his 16th-century work, Spiritual Exercises. Consolation and desolation describe the soul’s orientation toward God.
Consolation is experienced when our souls are drawn toward God in wonder or worship. It can be an act of God’s utter grace towards us. For example, it can happen involuntarily, even when one isn’t necessarily thinking about God. He “shows up” in our lives and we are flooded with joy and gratitude, acutely aware of His goodness and love toward us. Consolation can also be voluntarily, referred to as volitional consolation, when, in the midst of negative circumstances, we turn our hearts toward God in faith.
Desolation can feel like being separated from God. It can come from inner turmoil or external circumstances. In desolation, we find ourselves drawn to earthly things, rather than to God.
Consolation and desolation are not mood swings. They have everything to do with the posture of our attention: toward or away from God.
The Psalmist describes for us the natural movements of the human soul. We escape, flee, ascend, sprawl out, and fly away. We settle down in our comfortable comforts. Yet everywhere, God is there.
We ascend to the heights of joy in consolation, and sprawl out in despair when circumstances bring a death blow to our hopes and dreams. We are a people of soul movement.
How can we find stability? Where is our anchor in the rolling tides of consolation and desolation?
Even there.
No matter where “even there” is for us today, even there God’s hand will guide us. Even there His hand will grab us. #consolation Share on XPsalm 18 speaks beautifully of the powerful love of God that compels Him to rise from heaven, split the earth, go to its depths to grab the one in whom He delights.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Psalm 18:16-19
In what direction is your soul oriented today? Turn your attention to the One who sent His Son Jesus to anchor you. He left heaven and came to earth to display His great love for you. His name is Immanuel, God with Us, and He conquered death. He is present, and He is with you even there today.
Lord, thank You for Your presence in the place I find myself. Amen.
Photo by Tsuyoshi Kozu on Unsplash
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