Always There

For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6

When have you experienced a period of loneliness? We all have at one time or another. According to a June 2025 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Connection, 1 in 6 people worldwide is affected by loneliness, which significantly impacts health and well-being.* Loneliness often makes people feel that they are on their own, not seen or understood by others. Even in a crowded room, someone may feel completely alone. Loneliness is not just about physical isolation; it’s about the absence of meaningful connection.

In Ezekiel 48:35, God gives us another of His names, Jehovah Shammah. This is a Hebrew name meaning “The LORD is There” or “The LORD is Present.” It is found at the end of Ezekiel’s prophecy, as a promise from God that He will never abandon His people. In the early days of the Israelites, God’s presence came in the form of the pillar of fire at night and cloud during the day. He also took up permanent residence in the tent of meeting. After judgment, exile, and hardship in Babylon, God gives His people a vision of restoration at the end of the Book of Ezekiel. He leaves them with a pledge of His intimate presence and protection. God wanted His people to know that He had not abandoned them, that He would restore them, and that His presence would remain. 

God is present and near, even today. Jehovah Shammah serves as a reminder that God is present in every situation. We were meant to be in an intimate relationship and have a personal connection with Him. He wants that more than anything for us. This was made possible when Jesus bridged the gap and restored our relationship with the Father with His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. As believers, we also have the Holy Spirit to comfort, counsel, teach, and guide us. 

Maybe God feels distant to you right now. Perhaps circumstances feel overwhelming. Maybe prayers seem unheard. Loneliness creeps in. Yet the name Jehovah Shammah reminds us that God is always there, not just in the good times and the victories in life, but even in the hard, challenging, stressful, and confusing times. He is in every place, every season, and every detail of our lives. When we feel unseen, God is there. When we feel uncertain, He is there. When we feel tired, He is there. When we feel alone, God is there. 

God’s presence does not come and go, as human presence and relationships do. And, we do not have to earn it. It is not conditional like other earthly relationships can be. There is never a time when God is not there for us. We are never abandoned. 

In seasons of loneliness, our enemy, the devil, can lead us to believe a lie: that we are forgotten and abandoned. But the truth of Jehovah Shammah reframes reality. He is present in real time, in real situations, with real care. He is not just aware of our situation, He is with us in it. In order to feel God’s presence and to focus on our relationship with Him, we must make intentional, daily practices that quiet the mind and heart and draw our attention to Him part of our routine. 

Call to Action

Reflect on these questions: Where in your life do you most need to be reminded that God is present? How might your perspective change if you truly believed God is with you in that situation right now?

Take a few quiet moments today to pause and acknowledge God’s presence. Then, spend time with Him in prayer or Bible reading or praise.

Lean into God in the struggle. Instead of asking, “Where is God?” begin asking, “How is God with me here right here and now?”

Share today’s truth with someone who may feel alone. They need encouragement and to know that they are not alone. 

Digging Deeper

Read these additional verses on God’s presence: Joshua 1:9, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 23:4, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5b. Check out some of the examples of God being present with His people in the Old Testament: He walks and interacts with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8); He appears and speaks to Moses through the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6); He is present with the Israelites in the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22); He is present in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35); He appears as the fourth person in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:24-25).

Prayer
God, thanks for being Jehovah Shammah and always there for me. Help me to become more aware of Your presence in every moment. When I feel alone, afraid, or uncertain, remind me that You have never left me. Teach me to walk daily with the confidence that You are near. 

Copyright © 2026 Kyle Cravens

*Source:https://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2025-social-connection-linked-to-improved-heath-and-reduced-risk-of-early-death