Know That I Am With You

Suzanne Beck reflects on remembering God’s nearness during the busyness of her day. 

The last several weeks, God has been making me aware of His presence. Not in a consolation or in any feeling sort of way, but through Scriptures that are brought to my attention — simple reminders that He is near and with me.   

God Tries to Get my Attention 

The first was in the daily Mass readings a few weeks ago: the passage from Genesis 28 where Jacob encounters God after the dream of the angels ascending and descending. God says, “Know that I am with you.” As I practiced lectio divina that day, that was the phrase that was almost in bold print to me. I thought, “Hm, ok, I know that God is with me.” 

But as I meditated on that, I wondered: Do I REALLY realize that He is with me or is that just a one of those things I know but rarely remember/think about? Is it in my conscious thinking that He is near, or is it just one of those fleeting random thoughts? Do I dwell on His nearness? Do I revel in it and make more time to talk with Him? Do I comprehend it enough to discuss with Him details of my day?  

I realized that while I might think about Him during my brief morning prayer time or while praying my Rosary, much of the rest of the day I am immersed in my daily life and the cares that accompany it, rarely thinking about His nearness. Is that what He wants for me?  

A few days later, we heard the story of Moses and the burning bush when God tells Moses, “I will be with you.” Again, that struck me, reminding me that God is indeed with me every moment of the day. 

Then I was reading an article online, and in the back of the photo accompanying the article was a huge framed print of Joshua 16:13: “Be strong and courageous ... I will be with you.” 

Scriptures That Helped Me 

I’m a bit slow sometimes, but by now, I was starting to get the message! God is WITH ME and He wants me to be more aware of His presence! I then wondered what other verses might give me clues to His nearness, so I spent time looking for some of those and meditating on them. Here are just a few I found that might speak to you as well:  

• Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9) 

• Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) 

• Be strong and steadfast, and go to work; do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. (from 1 Chronicles 28:20) 

• The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18) 

Seven Ways to Be Aware of God's Presence 

Over the course of a day, I certainly think of my husband and my children more often than occasionally. If God is my best friend, my guide, my confidante, my Savior, then shouldn’t He be on my mind more often? Here are seven ways I’ve tried to adopt to help me be more aware of God’s nearness and simply to think of His presence more during the day. 

Pray a Morning Offering: 

I try to begin the day, even before getting out of bed, by acknowledging God’s presence, and offering my whole day to Him.  

Begin the Day with Prayer:

I work from home, so before sitting down to my workday, I try to spend at least 10 minutes in Scripture reading and prayer. Some days I’m able to incorporate my prayer time into a short walk before work, which helps as I contemplate the beauty God has given me that day. 

Pray the Rosary:

Praying the Rosary helps me focus on the mysteries of that day and the fruits I’m hoping to acquire. 

Display Scripture Verses:

I have Scriptures and prayers posted above my work area; I place a Scripture passage in beautiful calligraphy on my mantel, changing it every few days so I notice that it’s different. 

Pray With the Saints: 

I try to remember to ask for the intercession of the saint of the day. 

Pray in All Circumstances:

At various points of the day, I try to remember to offer up whatever joys, sorrows, or difficulties are happening.  

Be Patient:

I’m certainly not perfect in any of these areas (notice in each one, I’ve said “I try!”) but I find myself growing a tiny bit each day. Building a habit takes time and persistence, so be as patient with yourself as God is with you. 

Have you had difficulty remembering God’s nearness? What has helped you? How have you worked on that area? 

Prayer:

Lord, my day today is filled with lists and tasks that demand my attention. I know that you never leave me, but sometimes it’s hard to feel You with me. Please help me to remember you and know your nearness throughout the day that I may love you more and draw closer to you. 

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Copyright 2025 Suzanne Beck
Images: Canva