Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! Genesis 28:16

 

How often do you find yourself saying “I can’t wait until…” I can’t wait until I graduate. I can’t wait until I get married. I can’t wait until I get a raise!.

Anticipating the future and looking forward to achieving goals is exciting. But, constantly pinning all our hopes on events still to come can leave us discontented and oblivious to what God is doing in our lives right now. The true gold isn’t found in the promising glimmer of tomorrow; the treasure lies in cherishing today– seeing the person in front of you, listening attentively, savoring the blessings, working wholeheartedly.

In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, there’s a story of a man named Jacob who’s on a journey to find a wife. Alone and far from home, he falls asleep on the hard ground with a rock for a pillow. Jacob has every reason to look ahead, hoping for a better tomorrow. His present feels uncertain and uncomfortable. However, that night, Jacob dreams of heaven opening to him. He sees God and hears His voice offering the sweet assurance that God is with him, providing for Jacob wherever he goes.

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!'” (Genesis 28:10-22) Jacob was so concerned with his present circumstance, he missed the presence of God right there with him.

God is in your present with you. Are you aware of Him? Let’s wake up—like Jacob did, and realize God is in this place with us right now. His presence, not some future thing we’re longing for, is what changes everything. Try changing up “I can’t wait until,” for “God, please make me aware of Your presence!”