Ever feel overwhelmed with the demands of daily life? Ever feel unseen and unheard? Ever feel invisible and alone? Perhaps this describes the human condition in our modern world – a world where cyberspace competes with real life spaces and AI competes with reality. Too many people today feel anxious and isolated amid the chaos of these turbulent times. But it’s not just in our modern era that we humans often feel alone and overwhelmed by the chaos of events. Job experienced much chaos, loss, uncertainty, fear etc. and yet he had both comfort and hope while engulfed in chaos because Job knew God would never abandon him. In fact, when Job’s circumstances appeared hopelessly dire, Job said this –

“But He (God) knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Job did not believe satan’s lie that he was unseen, unheard and alone. Job believed that God saw him, was with him and would bring him through his devastating circumstances into a better time and place. This belief was the hope that sustained Job during his season of turmoil, loss and grief. During his ordeal, Job often complained that he couldn’t find God or hear God or feel God’s presence. Job wondered aloud where God was. Yet even though Job felt he had lost track of God, Job still acknowledged that God hadn’t lost track of him, saying “But He knows the way that I take . . .”

Reminds me of what Jesus told His disciples about God’s ever vigilant watch care over each and every one of us –

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

The NLT translation says that a sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground “without your Father knowing it.” What a comforting, if unfathomable truth! God watches over and keeps track of all living creatures, so He is most certainly watching over you and me, especially since God created us in His very own image. God will not forget about us or lose track of us. The prophet Isaiah says this about my Heavenly Father-

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

When life is chaotic and I, like Job, am feeling forgotten and unseen by God, I can know that despite appearances, I am not forgotten. My name is engraved on His palms and He knows “the way that I take.”

God’s ever-present presence is my comfort and my hope amid the chaos of this world. When I feel alone, unnoticed, unseen, unheard – knowing there is One, my Heavenly Father, who is with me, who does see me, hear me and watch over me – this brings me the peace and the courage I need to weather the storm. The same is true for you, too, dear readers. God sees you, hears you, and abides with you wherever you are and wherever you go. King David knew this to be true. He wrote about his experience in this Psalm –

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:7-12)

and in another Psalm –

“He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:3-8)

Daniel’s three friends experienced God’s company, courage and comfort when they were thrown into the chaos of the king’s furnace as a punishment for their refusal to worship the king’s image of gold. God was with them in that literal furnace. He kept them company and delivered them unharmed from that chaos. They were not burned. They didn’t even smell like smoke! God’s presence surely gave them all they needed. His peace, comfort, protection, hope and courage sustained them in that life threatening environment of the furnace.

God’s presence provided the same things to the Israelites as they traveled from Egypt to their promised land. It was God’s presence that brought them safely through the chaos of the Red Sea, of their desert wanderings and the chaos of the battles that were necessary for them to fight, in order to conquer their enemies and enter into their promised land.

Today, God’s abiding presence keeps me company in the chaos, comforts me and gives me the courage I need in order to emerge victorious from the chaos that surrounds, much like the three emerged victorious from their furnace. I am not alone in the chaos! This is good news. I have the promise of God’s word which says clearly that He will never leave me. This promise is for you, too, dear readers. You are not alone in your chaos. The God who knows when a sparrow falls is watching over you and me. And He never falls asleep on the job! So, take heart! Jesus said –

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

our instructions – God’s promise –

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. . . . The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8)

sincerely, Grace Day