Living in the Shadow of the Almighty
A Journey of Intimacy and Transformation
by Kari Minter
Have you ever stepped out in faith, only to find that life became more difficult rather than easier? You obeyed, trusting God, but the road ahead seemed filled with more obstacles than before. In the book of Exodus, Moses experienced this same tension and learned a profound truth: Dwelling with God is not about avoiding hardship but about finding intimacy and transformation through it. It is not a passive state but an active pursuit of intimacy with him. It’s about cultivating a relationship with God that permeates every aspect of our lives, transforming us from the inside out. The question is, how do we learn to dwell “in the shadow of the Almighty” (see Psalm 91:1)?
To grasp and apply this abstract reality, we must understand what Scripture states about this type of intimacy. The life of Moses is an excellent place to start. In Exodus 3, God revealed his plan to Moses: to free the Hebrew people from Egyptian bondage. This plan called for Moses to return to Egypt, confront Pharaoh, and ultimately lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses was initially fearful and resistant to God’s plans. When Moses finally agreed to obey God, his journey of learning to dwell in God’s presence began, because instead of relief, obedience increased hardship for both Moses and the Israelites.
Dwelling with God is not about avoiding hardship but finding intimacy and transformation through it.
Pharaoh responded to Moses’s demands for him to release the Hebrew slaves by declaring, “No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks… When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron… ‘May the Lord take note of you and judge’” (Exodus 5:18, 20–21).
Suddenly, life became more challenging as a result of following God. Have you ever been there?
But this is where we glimpse what dwelling with God entails. Moses’s reaction to hardship was to step into the presence of the Lord and talk honestly and openly with God. “So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, ‘Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people?’” (Exodus 5:22).
Prayer is the first step in learning to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty (see Psalm 91:1). As Moses continued to turn to God in prayer, he learned how to trust and dwell in God’s presence. By the time the tenth plague occurred, and Pharaoh finally agreed to let the Israelites go, Moses had been transformed from a fearful man (see Exodus 3) into a man committed to obeying God, regardless of the obstacles (see Exodus 11–13).
Taking a cue from Moses’s life, we also see that learning to dwell with God doesn’t happen overnight; for believers, it is a lifetime pursuit. Learning to seek refuge and security in his presence requires intentional time and purposeful obedience.
In John 15, Jesus provides a picture of what dwelling with God throughout our lifetime looks like: “Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me” (v. 4). In Greek, the word “remain” is in the imperative verb form, a loving command from Jesus to abide moment by moment, day by day. We don’t live off our past experiences. Regardless of how long we have walked with God, remaining in him continues to be our current practice and keeps us on the path of dwelling in his presence.
Learning to seek refuge and security in his presence requires intentional time and purposeful obedience.
While the concept of remaining in Jesus may feel abstract, Moses’s life can provide practical tools in learning how to implement this spiritual practice in our own lives. Dwelling—or remaining—in God requires us to also relinquish control and let God lead us as we seek him. As we learn to surrender, God produces spiritual fruit in our lives.
Moses prayed to God, obeyed, and humbly allowed God to use him. As a result, God produced much fruit in his life. Romans 12:1 calls these choices “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God”. These constant “living sacrifices” helped Moses remain in God, and as a result, God “produced much fruit” in his life (see John 15:8), including the ability to dwell with God.
Our “living sacrifices” often look like participating in spiritual activities such as prayer, Bible reading, memorizing Scripture, fellowship with other believers, serving, fasting, journaling, faithful obedience, or attending church. As we use these spiritual practices to help us abide in him, he will meet us in those moments and slowly transform us spiritually.
Dwelling with God is a lifelong journey of intimacy and transformation, marked by a deepening relationship with God and a growing likeness to Christ. As we commit ourselves to offering our lives as a “living sacrifice” and learning to “remain in him” through implementing intentional spiritual practices, we will experience the fullness of life that comes from dwelling in his presence.
It starts with one tiny step. Your step today could be to open the book of Exodus and begin reading Moses’s story for yourself. As you read God’s Word, you’ll know him better. The more you get to know God, the more you will love him—and your heart will overflow with worship of him. As we worship, we begin to see our life through a lens of gratitude instead of a lens of complaint.
Ultimately, as we continue to dwell with God, we learn we are always in the “shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Regardless of our circumstances, we can say, “Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love” (Psalm 90:14), and believe that God can do it. And it all starts with just one step toward God. Moses said a hesitant “yes” and then followed. Today, say “yes” to stepping toward God and trust him to begin working.
Scripture quotations are from the Christian Standard Bible.
Kari Minter is an author, Bible teacher, pastor’s wife, mom, and CrossFit coach who loves outdoor activities. @kari.minter1