Immediately…A Glimpse into our Omnipresent God

When you hear the word, “immediately,” what comes to mind? Whether it is the proper dictionary definition, or an experience that comes to mind, take a moment to ponder this word.

Years ago, I was in a Bible study, and we were studying the book of Matthew. One week our scripture passage was a familiar one: Jesus walking on the water. I had read this passage many times and did not really expect much to jump out at me. I answered all my homework questions, feeling confident that I was prepared for group study later that week. We opened our Bibles, read that passage, and then someone turned our attention to one word in the passage: immediately.

“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:28-31 ESV) (emphasis mine)

Why is the word immediately used here? It could have been left out altogether and still had much the same meaning. We know that all Scripture comes from God, and we know he is perfect, so this word is not here by accident. I asked myself, “What does this tell me about God?”

When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he was overwhelmed by the crashing waves and wind around him. He started to sink; he got scared, then he called out to Jesus. Without delay, without hesitation, Jesus helped him. In an instant, Peter was safe, no longer in any danger.

Have you ever been in this kind of situation? Have you ever taken your eyes off God and felt completely overrun, out of control, or scared?

Some time ago, my family was in crisis. Every moment was fraught with uncertainty, fear, drama, and the potential for tragedy. Every single one of us was in a heightened state of anxiety. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was living in the reality of, “when’s the other shoe going to drop?” Even when there was a break in the chaos, I stayed in that “fight or flight mode,” waiting for something worse to happen. Thanks be to the Lord for helping me realize that I did not have to live this way. I prayed a quick prayer, asking God for help and remembered this Scripture:

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV).

If I cried out to the Lord, if I trusted my need, my worry, to him, he would give me peace. I needed that peace. So, I poured out my anxiety and worry to the Lord, and I felt an inexplicable peace. Immediately, his peace, a peace that defied my excruciating circumstances, was with me. I was still in the middle of chaos, just like Peter was still in the middle of the ocean. But like Peter, I was safe. It felt like a switch had flipped.

This word, “immediately,” takes us deeper with God. It tells us a little more about him. You see, for him to instantaneously impact our circumstances, it means he is already there with us. No delay, no hesitation, no car ride, or airplane flight to get to us. He is always present with us, at all times and in every way. There is a fancy word we have for this attribute of God: omnipresence. Consider this word and what it means about God and what it means for you. We have an omnipresent God, always waiting and ready, prepared to give us what he knows we need in all the moments in our lives.

While I experienced an immediate sense of peace in this instance, there have been other times in my life, however, where God did not immediately give me what I asked for. So often we come to God with an expectation of what we think we need, what we think he should do. In those moments we think God is not immediately nearby. We define silence as an absence. It is those times that we must be ever mindful of his omnipresence. He is always near; nothing can separate us from him. We also must remember he is always working for the good of those who love him. Sometimes our greatest need demands that we stay in that excruciating circumstance. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, where Paul talks about being burdened to the point of despairing of life. Paul finishes his statement saying that the prolonged hardship was to teach him to depend on God, not on himself. Amidst sufferings, we can still have confidence in the omnipresence of God, knowing that he has already determined his best for us.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the world around you, call on him, and know that he will give you what you need most in that moment. Be confident that our omnipresent God is near and is already working to provide for your every need.

My name is Kristen Kimes. I was introduced to NEWIM because my husband, Michael, is the son of Susan Kimes, founder of NEWIM. I had the honor of attending a couple of Chosen Women events, where I witnessed the good news of Jesus proclaimed and worshipped. I was also able to serve with NEWIM on their administrative staff and even had the privilege to provide transportation to NEWIM event visitors. The primary impact of NEWIM came from the women with whom I served. I heard their stories, listened to their experiences with God, and felt the joy of being among women who loved the Lord above all. As with many things, I realized the impact much later as a hunger and thirst for God’s word and living what I believed blossomed.

For the past five years, I have served in Bible Study Fellowship as class staff, have written children’s curriculum, and most recently, published my first children’s book, God is Good.

Say hello to Kristen.