I’m currently reading a book called With by Skye Jethani. This book talks about different “postures” toward God: “Over God,” “Under God,” “From God,” “For God,” and “With God.” The author emphasizes that “With God” is the right approach to thinking about what it means to be a Christian. I am gratified that this view, the idea that the essence of the Christian life is “walking with God,” is becoming more mainstream.
It is particularly appropriate during this lead up to Christmas to dwell on this idea. Central to Christmas is the annunciation of “God With Us.” “Immanuel.” “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” In his Gospel John emphasizes the idea of God with us and in us through Jesus. Jesus asks the Father to send the Spirit so his presence can be a permanent feature of our lives—not dependent on where we are or what our condition is. Jesus was God “visiting” his people; the Spirit is God indwelling his people both corporately and individually.
I am struck by the many ramifications of this. One of the most intense ways God’s presence shows itself is that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. At those moments when we are unable even to talk about our plight, the Spirit pleads (intercedes) for us with “groanings that cannot be spoken.” So when we are at our worst, our most desperate, when we groan because we know not what say, the Spirit groans with us and pleads effectively for us to the Father.
God’s willingness to be with us when we are at our worst gives rise to what I consider the meaning of Christmas: hope. There is no place we can wind up where God is not with us—no state of mind, no circumstances, no problems or disappointments. “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
I know Christians who think that when they are at their worst, they are not worthy of God’s presence. This is a natural way to think, and I am sure God is not put off by it. Even more, I am sure that even when we are thinking this way, he is still “With” us. We may not feel him, or even want him, but he never stops wanting us.
God has not taken us out of the world; Jesus tells us that in this world we will have tribulation. And at moments of trial we are tempted to think that God has “abandoned” us or that he is punishing us. But the Bible assures us that one thing is true: God is With us. Regardless of our feelings (do I feel God’s presence?) or our shame (I’m not worthy of God’s love) or even our desires (I don’t really want God right now) he shows us that a relationship is a two-way street, and that the faithfulness of one party can cover the failings of the other.
I believe this idea of walking with God is worth pursuing and exploring. But even more, I believe we should simply trust it. Take God at his word. Be genuine before him even at your worst moments. Even if you have to make the 2nd-worst prayer in the Bible (c.f. Jonah chapter 4), God will not turn you away or abandon you. Those moments are the times when we most need someone, and those moments are the times we are most welcome before God.
Psalm 103 tells us that “as a father pities his children, so Yahweh pities those who fear him” (v. 13). Being a father myself, I know how much the agonies of my children affect me. God, who knows us far better than we know our children, enters even more deeply into our sufferings. One of the strongest temptations during suffering is to believe that we are alone, that nobody is there for us and nobody understands us. During those times I have found immense comfort in simply crying out to God (sometimes literally crying).
Even if we do not feel that God is there, our feelings are not the arbiter of truth. Our feelings are not more powerful than God. John says, “if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts.” If we feel unworthy of God, so what? If we feel he is absent, so what? When we feel hopeless, Immanuel is our hope.