God Is Everywhere

I spent the last two weeks in New York City, most of that time in Manhattan. (Which explains why I haven’t posted much in the past two weeks.)

Manhattan is a very busy, noisy place — much too noisy for  my taste. There are too many people pushing and talking and honking their horns. It is difficult for me to hear God with all that noise. I’m reminded of the scripture in which Elijah finds God not in the powerful wind or the earthquake or the roaring fire, but rather in the quiet whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-13.

And yet, I know that God is everywhere, even when I can’t hear Him over the cacophony of New York life. I know that He was with me all the time I was there. I did see Him and feel His strength.

I saw Him in the six different people who handed me a Christian tract or pamphlet because they wanted to share the Good News with residence of and visitors to New York. One person was even handing out the entire book of John!

I saw Him in the many people who answered our questions when we couldn’t figure out which subway train to take or didn’t know which way we needed to go to get where we wanted to be.

I saw Him in the super nice JetBlue attendant at JFK airport who helped us save $100 when two of our suitcases were overweight. She exhibited the patience and caring that only come from the grace of God.

I also felt Him with me. There were times during the trip when I literally did not think I could take one more step. We walked so much, and we climbed 354 stairs to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty, and then we walked more. My feet and legs were in so much pain I just wanted to sit down on a bench and stay there. But I knew I had to keep going, so I prayed for God to give me strength and He did. At one point, I was reminded of the pain that Jesus experienced when He was carrying His cross towards Golgotha. As bad as I felt, I knew He had felt worse and understood my struggle. This knowledge gave me comfort and strength to continue.

At first glance, it may not seem like God is in New York City, at least not to someone like me who is more accustomed to more country and less city. I still see the beauty of God more in the mountains and the trees, in the things He has created rather than the buildings and monuments that man has created. But when I look deeper, I see that God is in New York. It may take more effort to see and hear Him there, but He is there nonetheless.

I am glad to be home where it is quiet and peaceful. But it is good to know that I can find God in any circumstance because He is always there, everywhere.