God Is Closer Than You Think
Genesis 28:16 (ESV)
“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’”
Genesis 28 finds Jacob in a moment of transition. He is on the run, leaving behind everything familiar after the deception in the previous chapter. There is tension behind him and uncertainty in front of him. This is not a peaceful journey. It is a restless one. And in the middle of that, Jacob stops for the night. He lays his head down on a stone and falls asleep, and it is there that God meets him. In a dream, Jacob sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending, and the Lord standing above it. God speaks, reaffirming the promise given to Abraham and Isaac, reminding Jacob that the covenant still stands and that His presence will go with him wherever he goes.
Jacob wakes up with this realization, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” That statement is so honest. God was present before Jacob recognized it. God was working before Jacob was aware of it. And it took a moment of stillness for him to see what had been true all along.
That connects deeply with us. There are so many moments in life where we feel like we are in between, not where we used to be and not yet where we are going. Seasons of transition, uncertainty, or even consequences from past decisions. And in those moments, it can feel like God is distant. But Genesis 28 reminds us of something important. God is present, even when we do not realize it.
I think all of us have our own story when it comes to this, but for me, one of the unique dynamics is the privilege of teaching from Scripture almost every single Sunday. My goal is always to be faithful to the text and to think about how the people in our church can be encouraged and apply it to their lives. But over time, something became very clear. Again and again, the message I was preparing for others ended up being exactly what I needed personally. It was shaping me in ways I did not fully recognize at first.
That realization shifted something in me. God is not just working in the obvious moments. He is shaping us through every single moment of every single day. It is not a question of if He is working. The question is whether we have eyes to see it.
Jacob thought he was just stopping for the night. In reality, he was stepping into a moment where God would reveal His presence in a powerful way. And the same is true for us. God is not waiting for you at the next destination. He is with you right now, in the middle of your routine, your responsibilities, your questions, and your in-between seasons.
So today, slow down enough to recognize what Jacob realized. God is closer than you think. He is present. He is working. And He is shaping you, even in ways you may not yet fully see.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are always present, even when we are not aware of it. Open our eyes to see You in the middle of our everyday lives. Help us to recognize that You are working in every moment, shaping us more into who You have called us to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.