Spiritual Permanence

In a recent conversation around child development, I shared the concept of object permanence, or the idea that an object still exists even though it cannot be perceived through the senses. A two-year-old who has developed object permanence would understand that a parent leaving the room or hiding behind the bed is still present but just out of sight. Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget studied object permanence in the mid-1900s, and it continues to be considered a key developmental milestone.

As the conversation continued, it dawned on me how as Christians we too grow in spiritual permanence. As infant Christians, the idea that God is near even when we don’t sense Him is new and scary. We don’t perceive Him and suddenly we feel alone—even though we’re not. Like a watchful guardian, God would never forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He loves us too much.

Throughout Scripture, we see God as the model caregiver. He is the protector and provider and the one who challenges us beyond what we think we can do. At the same time, He is our shelter in distress, the one whose embrace will hide us (Ps. 17:8), and the nurturer we can count on to listen and be near. He observes when we sit and when we rise and perceives our thoughts from afar. He discerns our going out and lying down, is familiar with all our ways, and hems us in behind and before. Even if we tried, we could not flee from His presence, for He remains intimately interested in lovingly directing every detail of our lives (Ps. 139:1-12). He does not rush to accomplish His will but takes His time, in the words of Queen Elizabeth II, to walk at the pace of the slowest person in the land.

One of my favorite verses, 1 Corinthians 8:3, comes to mind: “But whoever loves God is known by God.” As He tells Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart” (Jer. 1:5). The Lord knows those who take refuge in Him (Nah. 1:7) and who are His (2 Tim. 2:19) and like a good Shepherd, He knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him (Jn. 10:14, 27).

These promises are sweet, but they are not for everyone. Rather, they are for the weak, vulnerable sheep who knows just enough to cling to the Shepherd it needs. Suddenly, the question becomes not, “Will God keep His promise and watch over me?” but, “Am I one of these lovers of God?” His protection is not just about Him knowing us but about us knowing, loving, and submitting to Him. In the Old Testament, God longed to provide rest, salvation, and strength to Israel. It was they who would have none of it (Is 30:15).

I think of Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:37: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” His wings are always broad enough, but we must take refuge in Him.

There will be times when God appears to be standing far off and hiding Himself in times of trouble (Ps. 10:1). That sensation isn’t new. Yet where does the psalmist go for comfort? In his confusion, he does not reject God but abides in the reality that He sees the trouble of the afflicted, that He is the Helper and Defender of the victim and the fatherless, that He encourages and listens to them, and that He as the ultimate King will hold evildoers to account.

Feelings are not final. We may feel like our God has left the room. We may not see Him, but He is indeed very present. We can not only trust His power and perfection; we can indeed trust His permanence.