There’s nothing quite like having someone’s full attention. They’re present. They’re listening. They have their phone put away, and their eyes are focused on you. They care about you and want to know what you have to say.

It’s quite different to have only someone’s partial attention. They’re there but not really present. They can hear you, but they’re not really listening. They’re letting themselves be distracted, and their eyes never even look up at you. It makes you feel like they don’t really care about you or what you have say.

Before Jesus left this world physically, he made a promise to his followers. It’s a promise that is still true for his people today. He said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Present. Always present with his people. Jesus went back into heaven, but because he is God, he can be present in multiple places at once. He is present in every place at once. That means he is always present with you. And even though he has a lot to take in and a lot to deal with as he governs the universe, he’s not partially present with you. Because he is God, he is fully present.

That means when you are God’s child, you have Jesus’ full attention for times like the following.

• When you need someone to listen. There’s something on your heart, and you want to talk. It can be big or small. He doesn’t mind. He won’t pull out his phone and start scrolling because he’s bored with your problems. He doesn’t roll his eyes and shake his head, wondering why it’s such a problem for you. He loves when you talk to him. He hears it all. And he’s actively listening, hanging on your every word to see just how he can help. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• When you need someone who cares. It’s one thing to have someone who will listen. It’s something else to know that the person isn’t just listening out of obligation. Jesus isn’t watching the clock as he’s with you. He’s with you because he cares. When you need someone who genuinely wants to know what it’s like—who is concerned about your well-being and how he can help—you can always go to him. He’ll take every burden and every anxiety. One of the Bible writers said, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
• When you need someone to tell you you’re loved. Because Jesus is always fully present, he knows and sees all the bad stuff. That includes the shameful stuff you wish you could go back and undo. There’s nothing he’s not fully aware of. And yet, when you are down and your guilt is overwhelming you, do you know who’s right there with a word of forgiveness, acceptance, and love? Yes, Jesus. His message in the Bible is for everyone, but it’s also specifically for you. If you take the Lord’s Supper at your church, he is really, truly, fully present right there with you. He doesn’t just send a message from afar. He personally shows up (even though you can’t see him) to tell you, “I still forgive you; I still love you.”

Just imagine what it must be like for Jesus, as God, to be present everywhere all the time. He’s watching and paying attention to everything. He’s taking it all in and dealing with every single issue in the universe. Amid the billions of people and the gazillion things they’re all dealing with from day to day, he doesn’t get too busy for you. He’s never too distracted to listen to you and show you his loving concern. When you are God’s child, he’s always giving you his full attention.

If you don’t know if you’re God’s child or would like to know more about how you can enjoy Jesus’ presence in your life, Time of Grace has lots of resources to help you find out more. We encourage you to get connected to a church near you that will give you Jesus and his Word in all his wonderful truth. Discover what it means to know Jesus and know his presence.

Not a partial presence. Not a begrudging presence.

His full presence. Always.