A couple weeks ago, my post expressed gratitude for God’s presence and His willingness to patiently accompany us wherever we choose to go.  I reflected specifically on His willingness to run a marathon with me through the streets of St. Louis on October 27, 2013, in the midst of His incomprehensible schedule.  I know God is above schedules, but my immature faith causes me to think of Him as being quite busy.

The thoughts from that post popped into my head this week  as I considered my recent meanderings … When my dead car battery left me stranded, I muttered less than positive – OK, “negative” – words under my breath.  When my kids made less-than-admirable choices, I raised my voice – OK, “yelled” – at them.  When I read the newspaper, thoughts – OK, “judgmental” thoughts – about others floated through my head.  And, when I should have been cleaning the dirty – OK, “disgusting” – bathrooms in our home, I went shopping.  It’s embarrassing, and God was at my side the entire time … hearing, seeing, and knowing everything.

“… I am with you always … ”  Matthew 28:20

If I could have seen God sitting next to me during the episodes above, I don’t think I would have acted the way I did.  I know He’s with me always because He’s told me so many times in the Bible, and I’ve experienced the peace and comfort of His presence.  But, somewhere between what I know and what I do, there’s a weak link in my faith … a weakness in my belief.  I shouldn’t need tangible proof of God’s presence, but sometimes it seems I do.

“I believe; help my unbelief!”  Mark 9:24

It’s easy to acknowledge God’s presence in the best of times, and we often call on Him in the worst of times.  But, somewhere in between – the place where my car battery dies, my kids try my patience, and my shopping gene beckons – there’s a danger zone.  I know God is there, but I choose not to acknowledge Him or call on Him.  Maybe it’s because I can’t see Him or maybe it’s because I feel confident in my own abilities.  Whatever the reason, I fail to feel His presence.  And, my resulting actions reflect that failure.

But, there’s hope in those “in between” places.  He can help us remember He’s there … in our car, at our dinner table, at the store … everywhere, all day, every day.  He can help us believe.  We just need to ask.  We all make mistakes, but we can strive to make fewer of them.  When I was staring at our dirty toilets, if I simply would have reminded myself I was on God’s time and in His presence, I would have consulted Him about the shopping.  The consultation itself would have revealed my selfishness.  And, knowing God, He probably would have found a way for us to do both the toilets and the shopping.