“The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The LORD Is There.’”
Ezekiel 48:35 NLT
God’s presence is never confined by time. While He walks beside us in this present moment, deeply invested in the messy, beautiful reality of our day-to-day lives, He is simultaneously resting in our future. We can take courage knowing that He is with us today, and that He is already occupying every moment, every milestone, every trial, and every unknown environment we have yet to face.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
Through all the noise, there is one unshakeable truth I rest in knowing: I am never alone. God’s presence has been my anchor, comforting me through the hardest, heaviest moments of my life, while multiplying my joy during the most exciting, fulfilling seasons.
This beautiful, steadying reality is exactly what God promised us thousands of years ago through a name revealed to the prophet Ezekiel: Jehovah Shammah.
When Ezekiel wrote these words, God’s people were in exile. They were completely disconnected from everything familiar and looking down the barrel of a completely uncertain future. God gave them a vision of a restored future and stamped it with a promise: The Lord Is There.
To be completely transparent, I don’t even want to imagine trying to navigate this journey without that promise. I would be so incredibly lost if I were stuck trying to figure out my life and my future all on my own. There have been several times where God’s favor opened doors that my human ability and understanding simply could not. When I look back at the toughest, heaviest seasons of my life, it wasn’t my own strength that got me through – it was the literal reality of His presence holding me together.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)
What a relief for our overthinking minds! You don’t have to stress about the unknown weight of the future. Jehovah Shammah is already there. He isn’t waiting for you to catch up; He is already standing in your tomorrow, preparing the ground for you.
Whatever thoughts are swirling around your mind today, and whatever is making you anxious about tomorrow, lean into your history with Him. He has been faithful in your past, He is holding you right now, and He is already occupying your future. You are never walking into a place where God is not.
What upcoming moment or “unknown environment” are you handing over to Jehovah Shammah today? Let’s chat in the comments below! 💕
