Digging Deeper: Resting in His Presence
“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b (NIV)
RESTING IN HIS PRESENCE
The Great Commission ends with a promise—not a command.
After calling His followers to go, to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach, Jesus offers this final word: “I am with you always.” Not sometimes. Not if you get it right. Not when you feel strong. Always.
It’s easy to read the Great Commission and feel the weight of it. We hear the call and start asking ourselves:
Am I doing enough?
Am I going where I’m supposed to go?
Am I equipped to make disciples?
What if I mess it up?
But Jesus knew that. He knew we would wrestle with fear, insecurity, doubt, and weakness. That’s why He ended not with pressure, but with presence.
This isn’t a mission we were meant to fulfill on our own. From the moment He spoke these words, Jesus made it clear: You’re not doing this by yourself.
As someone who’s lived out ministry in both vibrant seasons and deeply vulnerable ones, I can tell you—this promise has become my anchor.
There have been times when I’ve felt strong and sure, walking confidently in the work God called me to do. But there have also been long stretches—especially in this current season of chronic illness—when I’ve felt completely poured out. On those days, it’s not the commission that carries me. It’s the presence.
I may not have the same physical capacity I once did. I may not be able to go, serve, or lead in all the ways I used to. But Jesus is still with me. Still leading me. Still using me.
His presence is not dependent on my performance.
It’s not tied to how “productive” I am for the Kingdom.
It’s just… true. Always.
And that has changed the way I measure faithfulness—not by what I do, but by how I walk with Him.
Wherever you are today—whether you feel energized or exhausted, bold or broken, ready to lead or barely hanging on—know this: You are not alone. The same Jesus who called His disciples on that mountaintop is walking with you right now.
You don’t have to muster up strength you don’t have. You don’t have to figure it all out before you take the next step. You just have to trust that He is with you—empowering, equipping, and encouraging you every step of the way.
The Great Commission was never about what we can do for Jesus. It’s about what He can do through us—when we go with Him.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for never sending me alone. Help me live in constant awareness of Your presence. When I feel afraid, remind me You are near. When I feel weak, strengthen me by Your Spirit. May I walk in confidence—not in myself, but in You.
Reflect:
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Where do you need to be reminded that Jesus is with you?
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What changes when you remember that you’re not walking out your calling alone?
Minda Seagraves has been married to her best friend, Russell, for 17 years and is mom to Carson and Maddie. She is also a full-time missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a chaplain to local female high school teams and supports 380 staff across four states in the U.S. and 20 countries in East Africa as the Regional Director of Talent Advancement with FCA. Minda and her family live in Acworth and have been attending NorthStar Church since 2020.