Sitting amidst a congregation of people settling in for a Sunday service, I found myself overwhelmingly grateful that God can be intimately, entirely with me and everyone else in the room at the same time.

As I found a seat, I was asking Him to grace Anna with a fun time in the nursery because when I left her she was momentarily nervous in her surroundings. I asked Him to provide joy for her, to make her feel extra seen and loved and for her to laugh a lot. Minutes later, I noticed a long-time older friend wiping tears from her eyes, so I asked God to give peace and a tangible experience of His nearness with her. More minutes later, there were two church members who needed emergency medical attention so ambulances were called. Naturally, I prayed for healing, comfort for waiting family members and wisdom for the EMTs.

All the while, I felt seen and known and loved by God. Conversing, asking, sharing, enjoying…. just us, in our own world, in my heart, His home, the space we cultivate together. And all who are His have this!

So be encouraged, my friend. He can be seeing every minute detail that goes on on the earth while still giving us His full attention. We don’t have to shout for it, perform for it, beat someone else out for His ear. He is there, always, waiting and ready to welcome whatever we want to talk about. All the while sustaining and holding the universe together.

What. A. God.

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PS. Today was not a day we had Anna alongside us in the pew, and while it is certainly more challenging, I find I really like her being in there with us.