Always

Nearly 25 years ago, Bette Midler put out a huge hit called, "From a Distance".  The basic theme was that God was this dispassionate Being who had set the world into motion and was merely observing humans in all their goings-on since the dawn of creation.

What a lie.

Proverbs 15:3 (ESV) DOES say this:

3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

This verse speaks to the characteristic of God we call "omnipresence".  But, "watching" or "keeping watch" are not the same as "omnipresence".  Omnipresence is more than watching from a distance.  Omnipresence is "being there", being present everywhere at the exact same time.

But, omnipresence is merely one of the aspects of God's amazing character.  He is not merely present either.  He is actively present in every aspect of every human's everyday life.

Psalm 77 and Genesis 14:18-23 are but two of many examples throughout the Bible which show the penitent soul asking for God's intervention and then recounting the many times God has in the past shown His mighty hand in the affairs of men.  Benjamin Franklin referred to this aspect of God's stewardship and utter sovereignty when he made his famous speech (about prayer) to the Constitutional Convention in 1787:  " I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it. "1

(How far we have fallen as a country from the standard Mr. Franklin put forth!)

As a child I was told that my parents had "eyes in the back of their heads".  I knew that was a figure of speech, and it was told to me to keep me in line (a difficult task, to be sure).  But, behind the warning, I knew there was benevolence and tender love.  As parents, we long to watch over our children every single moment.  Today's technology has made that more feasible, with phone apps and baby monitor cameras and so forth.  However, only God, through His divine omnipresence, can truly be with us and our loved ones continually.

Non-Christians find this ever-present aspect of God's character extremely troubling.  The ungodly have no desire to be either observed OR interfered with, as they go about their daily practices of sin.  The only sanity-saving alternative for them is to deny the existence of God completely, which allows them to dwell comfortably in their sinful practices.  The proliferation of atheism always goes hand-in-hand with personal or national debauchery.

Christians are more comfortable with God's ever-presence, bringing feelings of peace (for His steadfastness/guidance/love) and humility (for the times we lapse into sin in his presence ... because we are always in His presence).

Today our world is increasingly challenged by ever-encroaching depravity.  Every news story seems to bring new, horrible tidings of sinful behavior.
What a supreme comfort to know that, no matter the circumstances, God remains in control of this world and of our individual lives.  And, that no matter what happens to me in this earthly existence, nothing nor anyone can snatch me from His loving hand.

They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from Me.

John 10:28 (Aramaic Bible)

Source:

1    http://captainjamesdavis.net/2014/02/02/god-governs-in-the-affairs-of-men-speech-by-benjamin-franklin-during-the-constitutional-convention/