Hello, friend. In seasons when we feel distant from God (perhaps overwhelmed by anxiety, loneliness, or uncertainty) it’s easy to wonder if He’s still near. Today, we’re turning to a beautiful story in Scripture that reminds us God meets you where you are, even in the most unexpected places.
Open Your Bible
Today we are doing a devotional on Genesis 28:10-17. When you’re ready go ahead and grab your Bible and let’s read the passage together.
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac… I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go… I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
When Jacob awoke, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Take a moment to let these words settle in your heart.
God Meets You in Unexpected Places
Jacob was fleeing. Running from the consequences of his choices, alone in the wilderness with nothing but a stone for a pillow. This wasn’t a sacred temple or a moment of spiritual triumph. It was a place of fear, exhaustion, and isolation.
Yet that is exactly where God chose to reveal Himself. Not because Jacob had earned it, but because God’s presence isn’t limited by our circumstances or our awareness. Jacob’s honest exclamation, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” —captures the surprise so many of us feel when we realize God has been near all along.
If you’re in a season that feels like a wilderness, take heart. God meets you where you are, even when the ground feels hard and the future uncertain.
God’s Presence Is Personal and Promised
Notice where the Lord positions Himself in the dream: standing above the stairway, speaking directly to Jacob. He reminds Jacob of the covenant promises made to Abraham and Isaac, then makes them personal: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”
This isn’t a distant deity watching from afar. This is the God who sees, who speaks, who commits. The same God promises us in Deuteronomy 31:8: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
When anxiety whispers that you’re alone or forgotten, remember Jacob’s ladder bridging heaven and earth. Jesus Himself later referenced this moment in John 1:51, declaring that He is the true stairway, the way heaven touches earth, the way God comes close.
Awakening to His Nearness
Jacob woke up changed. A ordinary stopping place became “the house of God” and “the gate of heaven.” Nothing about the location had shifted— only Jacob’s awareness.
So often, our greatest need isn’t for God to move closer, but for our eyes to be opened to His nearness. He is already with us in the ordinary, the painful, the quiet moments we might overlook.
If you’re looking for gentle tools to help quiet your heart and notice God’s presence more clearly, I’ve curated a list of Bible verses for anxiety relief in journals and devotionals that have been meaningful in my own journey.
Check out my Amazon favorites here for peaceful journaling resources.
A Simple Practice for Today
Take a quiet moment today and try this breath prayer:
As you inhale slowly: “God, You are here.”
As you exhale: “Open my eyes to see You.”
Repeat it several times, perhaps while holding your Bible or sitting in a place that feels ordinary. Let it be a gentle invitation for awareness of His nearness.
A Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for meeting us where we are; even in the wilderness places of our hearts. Thank You that Your presence doesn’t depend on our perfection or our feelings. Open our eyes today to see You in the ordinary, to hear Your voice in the quiet, and to rest in Your promise that You will never leave us. When fear or anxiety rise, remind us of the stairway between heaven and earth, and of Jesus who bridges every gap. We trust You with our today and every tomorrow. In His precious name, Amen.
For further encouragement, you might enjoy this recent devotional: Casting Every Care on God: A Devotional on 1 Peter 5:7
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About the Author
Fern of the Valley is a faith-based blog dedicated to exploring God’s Word with gentleness, depth, and practical application for everyday life. Written for the anxious heart seeking peace, each devotional is designed to bring you closer to Jesus and help you find rest in His presence.
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