The God Who Stays: Life Looks Different With Him by Your SideSample

Why Does God Stay?

Getting back to the basics begins with getting back to the Bible, so I turned to the first chapters of Genesis to read God’s love letter to the world. I wanted to start with the creation story where everything was good, just as God had intended it to be. And that is when I noticed something beautiful about God and His relationship with His people. The Bible says in Genesis 3:8 that God “was walking in the garden in the cool of the day” right before Adam and Eve heard Him coming and ran away to hide. Something captured my heart in that simple line. I sat back and thought about God taking a walk through the garden. It isn’t a verse I hear often, but it caught my attention, and I read it again. The Bible doesn’t say God was out for a walk in the garden for the first time. And Adam and Eve didn’t seem the least bit surprised to hear God a few steps away when they ran and hid from Him. As I read it again, it seemed apparent that God had a habit of taking walks in the garden with Adam and Eve, and maybe it was even a daily thing.

Consider for a minute that the God of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, came to the garden He created to walk and talk with Adam and Eve.

If we value our relationships, we must work to make them a priority. I didn’t consider it at first, but God’s taking the time to walk in the garden demonstrated that commitment. If you think your day is busy, imagine God’s schedule. I’m sure He has a lot going on managing the universe. But in that Genesis verse, God was walking to see Adam and Eve like it was a priority.

My dad makes it a priority to come to my studio weekly to help me host a virtual devotional called ‘Quiet Time’ on my social media channels. He also makes guest appearances on my podcast and often goes on tour with me.

One time a young man named Aiden called into my podcast from Canada. He was in the sixth grade and had tons of positive energy. He said, “Matthew West, God is so good to me!” He had started five businesses and was excited to talk about how God had gifted him to be a graphic designer—and he was only in the sixth grade! He had enthusiasm and excitement about life. The last thing he said made me laugh because it was odd but appropriate to the conversation I had been having with God lately. He said, “God is so good that He would take the time out of His schedule to love us.” That statement from a young kid reminded me there is nothing more important to God than being with me. Of course, God stays because you and I are a priority to Him. What an incredible truth!

During the season of being quarantined at home, we spent much more time together as a family. As God continued to remind me of why He promised to stay with me, I kept thinking about those walks in the garden from the story of Genesis. I thought each day about the reality that walks are what you do with people you love. I was learning that God didn’t just love me, and He wasn’t distant; He was right there and wanting to spend time with me. My family started an evening tradition during the lockdown, which we still do today. We went on a family walk every evening to get outside in the fresh air and enjoy each other’s company. Those walks are one of the gifts we have held on to from that hard season of life. It’s become a way for me to unplug and catch up with Emily and the girls.

The weather on our evening walks doesn’t always qualify as the “cool of the day” here in Tennessee. More like “in the sweat-drenched humidity of the South.” But I wouldn’t miss those walks with my family for anything. I love being with them. I love to hear what they have to say. I love talking to them about their day. I love listening to what they are learning. I love seeing them grow and change. I love those moments where there is nothing but us. And often now, those moments together make me think about what it must have been like for Adam and Eve to go on walks with God in the garden. Did they go every evening? Did God ask them about their day? Did He want to know what they thought of this or that? I bet He did.

I want to believe He comes to us every day the same way He did to Adam and Eve. I think we are a priority to Him. He likes the way you talk and sing and laugh and cry. He likes your smile. He likes your company. I believe He likes you. Maybe that is one chord that brings us all together as believers—the notes on which we can build our lives.

Respond

What are things you and your family do routinely together?

How do you make time with God a priority in your life?

Prayer

Loving God, I want to spend time with You daily. Please help me make that time a priority! Amen.