Great in Your Midst

“You will say in that day:
‘I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
    for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
    that you might comfort me.

“’Behold, God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation.’

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:

“’Give thanks to the Lord,
    call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
    proclaim that his name is exalted.

“’Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
    let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.'” Isaiah 12:1-6

“Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…
For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.'” Isaiah 41:10,13

“God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.” Psalm 46:5

“I will not execute my burning anger;
    I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
    the Holy One in your midst,
    and I will not come in wrath.” Hosea 11:9

The Lord comforted His people by reminding them often of His presence in their midst. He was always nigh, His presence palpable, never to leave or forsake His children no matter their situation. Present, and great. Great in stature. Great in knowledge and wisdom. Great in strength to save. Great in supply of joy. Great in justice, and mercy. Great in might and deed. Great in help. He was and always would be their great God.

Man in the flesh has distorted views of greatness. Great can morph into great for me: comfortable, easy, without friction, successful, famous, important. But the Lord’s greatness transcends circumstance. It is embodied in His immutable and perfect character, established in truth and uprightness. It does not change like shifting shadows, nor depend on events or emotions or opinions. He is great because that is His nature, and every facet of His character, never to be dissuaded or altered. And this God, the personal all-loving, all-good God, is among us! (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 95:3; James 1:17)

How aware are we of God’s interest and involvement in the details of our lives? What difference does His greatness in our midst make for every day? Is there a difference it should be making that we have resisted, or ignored?

Are there conundrums we allow to contort our thinking and upend emotions, when looking to the greatness of God would bring peace? Where are we exhausted spending ourselves to the limits and not looking to God for help? What involvements and entertainments do we choose without taking His holy presence into account, not considering how His greatness is offended, and could be accessed to resist temptation? Welcoming and embracing the great abiding presence of God affords sustenance and joy at all times.

Lord God, teach me to relish, rely on, and praise Your greatness in my midst always.