PRESENCE
(DAY 3 of 7) Matt Volkens
“…No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set;
your moon will not go down.
For the Lord will be your everlasting light;
your days of mourning will come to an end.”
— Isaiah 60:19–20 NLT
nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set;
your moon will not go down.
For the Lord will be your everlasting light;
your days of mourning will come to an end.”
— Isaiah 60:19–20 NLT
Think
On my forearm I have a tattoo of the sun and moon reflecting over water. That image came to me in a moment when I felt lost, lonely, and discouraged. Late at night, sitting on the seawall in downtown West Palm Beach, I asked God, “Where are You?”
As I looked out, I noticed the moon shimmering across the water. Then I remembered: the moon doesn’t create its own light — it only reflects the sun. My eyes saw darkness with just a small rock glowing in the sky, but reality was far greater: the sun, powerful enough to light the whole earth, was still shining, unseen yet undiminished, and its light reached me through reflection.
Maybe that’s where you are right now. Maybe life feels dark. Maybe the things that once brought light have faded. Maybe you’ve simply forgotten to look up. But if you would, you’d see a Savior — present in every moment, in every circumstance, in every corner of your life.
Dallas Willard once wrote, “The presence of God is not a distant hope but a present reality. The Kingdom is among us, if only we have eyes to see.”
There is hope. There is light. There is Presence. Look up, and see.
As I looked out, I noticed the moon shimmering across the water. Then I remembered: the moon doesn’t create its own light — it only reflects the sun. My eyes saw darkness with just a small rock glowing in the sky, but reality was far greater: the sun, powerful enough to light the whole earth, was still shining, unseen yet undiminished, and its light reached me through reflection.
Maybe that’s where you are right now. Maybe life feels dark. Maybe the things that once brought light have faded. Maybe you’ve simply forgotten to look up. But if you would, you’d see a Savior — present in every moment, in every circumstance, in every corner of your life.
Dallas Willard once wrote, “The presence of God is not a distant hope but a present reality. The Kingdom is among us, if only we have eyes to see.”
There is hope. There is light. There is Presence. Look up, and see.
Act
Take a moment today to name one good thing in your life. Let it remind you that every good gift has its source in God. Then recall a moment in your past when God was faithful to you, and allow that memory to shape how you see your present circumstances.
Pray
Jesus, we invite you to meet us here today. Wherever we are in life, whether you feel near or far, would we look up, see and sense your presence, and know that you are God, and you are here with us. Help us to walk in confidence whether life feels like the day or the night to be illuminated by your presence, Holy Spirit. Make us more aware of your presence today. Amen.
Worship
Spend some time worshiping the Lord.
Come back tomorrow for day 18!