When I Don’t Understand Part 3

He Is Near

The beauty and mystery is that He is ever-present. Ever-present has a sense of variety:

• He is present all of the time.
• He is present everywhere.
• He is present in our present.

We generally connect ever-present with God’s omnipresence, which it is; however, Holy Spirit is also ever-present. He is the manifestation of ever-present. It is He whose name means “near”, “with”, “close by”, “on all sides”, “surrounding”, and “Helper”. Fascinating to think that the big, big God who created and rules everything is always with us.

Though, as we “walk through our shadows of the valley of death”, we typically do not consider Holy Spirit’s nearness. We centralize our thoughts on the immediate pressure, pain, and perplexities. You aren’t crazy; they’re real. You’re being afflicted. You’re being targeted, even. The kiln’s heat is at its pinnacle and you’re right in the middle. You are hurting. You are tired and weary. Nonetheless, those things pale in comparison to the reality of His nearness. If we submit those corrupted thoughts to the higher, weightier, most precious thoughts of our being shielded and hemmed in on all sides, we will valiantly tread on scorpion and serpents, i.e., our trials and tribulations.

A closer look at what some of us might be experiencing in the place of Not Understanding that is housed within the province of Stuck, is suffering with Jesus. Oh, the melodic prose our lives release as potent fragrance through the atmosphere like silky smooth words on a sheet to a reader when we resolve and reconcile ourselves to this: No cross, no crown. That we might partake in His sufferings so we can partake in ruling and reigning with Him. You see, you are being put to death. Death stings…but not forever when we have Jesus. During the stinging, the promise is as it has always been when you first received it in its unmatched cladded presentation where exhilaration and gleeful grins were endless: “I (God) have more for you…but it will cost you; and you must endure this.”

There Is a Name

Unfortunately, we lose sight of some incredible tools for spiritual warfare as we’re worn down. Like roofs caved in from the height of tornadoes or dilapidation from the crashing of the insidious floods in the wake of hurricanes, we tend to buckle in agreement with circumstances. We think “Certain spiritual warfare tactics I enlisted will not work this time. They haven’t worked at all so far!” And you are absolutely correct. While the battle is raging externally against us from demonic enemies, What and Who we consider an enemy or the enemy is, in fact, Almighty God.

God isn’t warring against us, per se. However, the Spirit of God and our flesh are ever in a war. As we mature in Christ Jesus, our human spirits increase capacity for Holy Spirit, and the Lord Sabaoth assuredly wars until everything that has tarnished His beloved’s being and image is annulled and removed, so that the beloved glistens on all fronts like God the Son, Jesus. This pressure that we feel, that we account unto Most High as too intense – and may even accuse Him of being hostile against us – is the Refiner’s fire. It is a good thing! Still, like Job, you do have external demonic enemies during the refining process. They whisper to us “Give in. Give up! Deny Him!”

Nevertheless, we aren’t helpless in this state as God masterfully crafts the work of perfection within us. Our warfare weapons shift. There is a name by which we know and must call Him at this juncture – Emmanuel. Emmanuel (or Immanuel) isn’t just a name given to Yeshua. Rather it is a name that describes who He is. There is power in the name Emmanuel and when we invoke that name we must understand what ensues. I could only imagine Joseph in his pit in the place of Pitiful as thoughts pervade without escape: “Where are You, Elohim?” Visibly, Joseph didn’t see Him. Perceptively, Joseph could not feel Him. Yet, by faith Joseph knew God was present. Joseph made a choice to continue. A choice to trust.

Similarly to Holy Spirit whose essence is nearness, Yeshua (Jesus) is also near as we cry out Emmanuel. This isn’t one name out of the thousand-and-one names attached to Him. This isn’t simply an S.O.S for comfort. Calling Him Emmanuel in the state of Stuck is spiritual warfare. Consider Israel in her darkest hour. So much bleakness. So much despair. A promise was given to Israel via a heavenly being that declared your salvation shall be called Emmanuel. And Emmanuel will break the bonds of desolation; break the bonds of isolation; break the bonds of separation; break the bonds of marginalization; and break and sever the bonds of the chasm between oneness and unity with God and man. Call on Emmanuel in the place of plateau. He is a very present help in time of need.

Three-In-One

Despite the deconstruction of each Person within the Godhead regarding presence, they all represent aspects of being present. Earlier stated, Holy Spirit is the manifest presence of ever-present, while Yeshua embodies the name Emmanuel, which denotes “I am present with you” (or God with us/God among us). Father is also associated with presence. How could He not be!

God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 AMP

Similarly to Yeshua, there is a name associated here in Psalm 46 with ever-present that aligns with Father – Lord of Heaven’s Armies (or Lord of Hosts). You see, in times of trouble, in the places of Stuck and Pitiful, we need mighty defense. To whom and where else can we run or turn? Especially when there’s been abandonment, hypercriticism against us, and disloyalty. We run into His arms (presence) for He is our refuge (Defender/Defense). This has now become a spiritual warfare tactic. We’re not only protected, but He fights for us and we have released the Weapon of Mass Destruction against our enemies.

We’re not alone. How could we ever be when the Almighty God, God the Defender is on our side?! What great joy we have even in Stuck and Pitiful that our anchoring defense wars for us! That when we enlist the name Emmanuel Jesus refortifies His name and presence in us! That when we focus our attention on the truth of the paraclete (Holy Spirit) He emphasizes His nearness around us! We’re never alone…even in the muck and mire of life’s throws.

Your voice holds me together. When I feel like I’m falling apart. I place my world in Your hands. You come and steady my heart. I feel you in the stillness. I know that You are good. I feel you in the stillness. I know that You are good. My heart will stay steadfast. I know that You are good. I feel You in the stillness. I know that You are good. Emmanuel God with us. Emmanuel God with us. Comforter You are to me. Shelter from the cold. Constant how You carry me. Never letting go. You are with me.

Jenn Johnson / John-Paul Gentile / Robby Busick / Janie Elizabeth Taylor, Bethel Music Publishing