Pastor Lucy Paynter Daily Insights

Psalm 139:7-12 New International Version (NIV) 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?     Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;     if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,     if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me,     your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me     and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;     the night will shine like the day,     for darkness is as light to you. Illustration Jonah chapter 1. 1. Geographically - Wherever we may go; vertically up to the highest regions of space; or down to the lowest depths of the earth; God is there! Or we may understand them. 2. Metaphorically - referring to the highs and lows of life whether we are up with joy or weighed down with sorrow, He is there with us. In light and life and joy and hope; or in darkness, death, sorrow and disappointment; through all of our life, God promises.  HEBREWS 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.  When do you FEEL the furthest from God? It is usually during the tough times of life.  Do not try to run from God when times get tough.  In the book of Job, Job was having problems in his life. He refused to curse God for his trouble.  God not only knows about what we go through; He is there for us and cares about us. The third way to take his words is. 3. Literally - in the highest Heaven, where we naturally expect to find God. But even in "Sheol" -- the Hebrew word for the place of the dead (it’s not hell; "Sheol" is usually translated "the grave") even there we find God. Distance Death Darkness CONCLUSION  David found great comfort knowing that God was with Him no matter where he went.  We need to understand that we cannot hide from God.  We need to understand that we cannot hide from God’s love either.  God loves each and every person that has been created. God loves you.  Maybe you are in a difficult situation right now, have suffered some kind of loss, been afflicted with illness or pain. Maybe the wound is still tender. Perhaps it’s too early to know why it’s happening. Perhaps you may never know this side of eternity. But believe David; God has not left you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-lucy-paynter/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-lucy-paynter/support