I think it’s difficult for us mere humans to understand the omnipresence of God. He is everywhere all the time. He is with me, He is with you, He is with people overseas. EVERYWHERE! Sometimes we forget and feel lonely or feel like we can get away with sin when no one’s looking. But God is always with us and always sees.

As an athlete, you have a schedule and a diet and a routine you need to stick to so you are able to compete to the best of your ability. There are sacrifices and decisions you make that some people don’t get, and it’s easy to feel like an outsider when people don’t understand you. When you’re traveling and going from one hotel to the next, it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone. But, athlete, what we need is with us all the time: the Holy Spirit.

Think about Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” and her ruby red slippers. Her ticket home was on her feet throughout the entire journey. All she needed to do was to tap them together, and she was on her way home. How comforting is it to know that whatever we’re going through or wherever we are, we will never be alone, and we have a power source, more powerful than any ruby red slippers, forever in our grasp.

Prayer to consider today: Lord, where can I escape You? Nowhere. There’s nowhere I can go where You cannot find me. Thank you for Your constant presence. Thank you for knowing me and being the One who truly understands all of me.

Reflect: What do you do in those lonely moments or when you feel misunderstood?

Challenge: The next time you feel alone or misunderstood, say a “thank you” prayer to God for the fact that you are not alone and that you are understood by Him.