Many people have asked me this question, often with a look of wonder in their eyes: “Father, how can God be everywhere at once?” It’s a question that reaches into one of the deepest mysteries of our faith — the mystery of God’s presence. We live in time and space, limited to one place at a time, so it’s hard for us to imagine a Being who is not bound by those limits. Yet that is exactly what we mean when we say that God is eternal and infinite.
The Bible speaks of this truth beautifully: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). The psalmist realizes that whether he ascends to heaven or descends into the depths, God is there. God’s presence fills all creation — not as a physical body spread out, but as the loving Creator who sustains everything in existence. Every heartbeat, every sunrise, every moment of breath is held in His presence.
To say that God is “everywhere” doesn’t mean He’s a part of everything like a piece of matter. Rather, He is present through His power, knowledge, and love. He is not in the world the way we are, but the world exists in Him. As Saint Paul told the Athenians, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Nothing escapes His sight, and no place is too far for His care. Even when we feel alone, God is not absent — He is silently near, closer than our own thoughts.
In prayer, we often sense this mystery most deeply. When we kneel in silence, it is not that we “bring” God into the room; He was already there. What changes is our awareness. To open our hearts to God is to awaken to the truth that we are never outside His presence. Whether in joy or sorrow, we are always within the embrace of the One who is everywhere — not scattered, but whole, loving, and attentive.
Wherever you are right now, pause and breathe. God is here — not far away, not hidden, but gently surrounding you with His presence and love.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
