Good Morning Sunshine! The Lord Is Closer Than You Think, He Is There, Jehovah Shammah Is His Name!

Ezekiel 48:35 (NIV) ~ “The distance all around will be eighteen thousand cubits. And the name of the city from that time on will be: The LORD Is There.”

In Ezekiel 48:35, after a long season of exile and judgment, God revealed a prophetic vision to the prophet Ezekiel, a vision of restoration and divine presence returning to His people. The city, once marked by devastation, would now be identified by a new name: Jehovah Shammah, meaning “The Lord is There.” This name symbolized the promise that God’s presence would never again depart from His people. It marked a shift from abandonment to abiding, from desolation to divine dwelling. Just as God’s glory departed the temple in Ezekiel 10 because of Israel’s sin, now His presence would return in full glory, restoring fellowship, favor, and faith. This scripture is a prophetic declaration that wherever God’s name is acknowledged, His presence establishes residence. It reminds us that even when the world around us changes, the Lord’s nearness remains constant. Psalm 16:11 assures us, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Jehovah Shammah is not simply a name to know; it’s a reality to live.

When the prophet Ezekiel looked upon the vision of the restored temple, he heard the Lord declare a new name over the city: Jehovah Shammah, “The Lord is There.” This was not merely a geographical statement; it was a divine assurance. In a time when Israel had been scattered, bruised, and seemingly forgotten, God reminded them that His Presence would not be absent forever. Where His name abides, His Presence dwells, and where His Presence dwells, restoration follows. The name Jehovah Shammah whispers a powerful truth: God is not a visitor; He is a resident. His presence does not come and go with our emotions. Even when we cannot feel Him, He remains there. He was there when you wept. He was there when you waited. He was there when you wondered if anyone saw your pain. Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He doesn’t just show up, He abides.

When life feels distant, Jehovah Shammah is near, you may not always perceive Him in the noise of disappointment or the silence of delay, but His Presence is unshaken. Psalm 139:7–10 declares, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” The name Jehovah Shammah assures us that distance and darkness are no barriers to divine nearness. The power of this name reveals that God’s Presence is not restricted to the temple, it lives within His people. When Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, Jehovah Shammah took residence in every believer. What once required a holy place now dwells in a holy heart. 1 Corinthians 6:19 declares, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” The Lord is not just there, He is here.

In seasons of loss, His name becomes your comfort. Jehovah Shammah walks through hospital rooms, courtrooms, classrooms, and living rooms. When others leave, He stays. When strength fades, His hand steadies. In Isaiah 43:2, God promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” His Presence does not prevent the storm, but it preserves us through it. Jehovah Shammah means that no corner of your life is too empty for His Glory to fill. He sits in silence with you, stands in battle beside you, and dwells in the ordinary moments of your day. When your prayers seem unanswered, His name still speaks: “The Lord is there.” He’s in your pause, in your purpose, and in your process. There’s a divine steadiness in His nearness. When others vacate, He validates. When others abandon, He abides. His name affirms that even when people forget your worth, God has already settled your value. You were created for His Presence, not just to work for Him but to walk with Him. Every step you take is surrounded by the assurance of Jehovah Shammah.

This name, Jehovah Shammah, becomes your anchor when you feel unseen or unheard. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” His words were not poetic, they were prophetic. Jehovah Shammah was speaking through the Son. The same God who was there in Eden, who was there in exile, who was there at Calvary, is still there today, dwelling in His people, defending His promise. In moments when you question if God has left you, His name declares the opposite. He was with Daniel in the lions’ den, with Joseph in the prison, with Ruth in the field, and with Elijah in the cave. He is the God who shows up in unexpected places to remind you that His Presence is not dependent on your position, it’s guaranteed by His promise. Jehovah Shammah means that God’s Presence turns desolate places into dwelling places. What was once barren becomes beautiful because He is there. Ezekiel saw a city once destroyed become a place where the glory of God returned. Likewise, the ruins of your life are not permanent. The Lord is there, building, breathing, and blessing again.

When you walk through dry seasons, remember that His Presence does not expire in drought. Deuteronomy 31:6 declares, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” Even when it feels like nothing is growing, Jehovah Shammah waters your faith with His Word until fruit appears again. His name becomes a promise over your pain. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, who saves; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love.” Jehovah Shammah does not stand afar; He leans in close. His nearness is the healing balm that closes wounds the world cannot see.

So today, lift your eyes from where you are and see where He is. His presence hovers over your home, your children, your ministry, your dreams. The name Jehovah Shammah is Heaven’s reminder that you are never alone. His Presence doesn’t need perfect conditions to be powerful; it simply needs your acknowledgment. Declare it now, “The Lord is there!” He is in this moment, in this breath, in this very heartbeat. His name fills the gaps of your uncertainty and writes over every worry the truth of His faithfulness. When you can’t trace His hand, trust His Presence. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, and that’s enough.

Let’s Pray:

Jehovah Shammah, I bless Your Holy Name today. You are the God who dwells among us, the One who sits enthroned in my midst and calls me Your own. Thank You that Your Presence is not distant or conditional, it is constant, covering, and comforting. I acknowledge that You are here right now, inhabiting the praises of Your people. Lord, I thank You for being with me in every season of my life, when I rise, You are there. When I rest, You remain. You do not retreat when life becomes difficult; instead, You reveal Yourself in deeper ways. You are Emmanuel, God with us, and Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who stays. Father, fill every empty place within me with the weight of Your Presence. Where loneliness has lingered, let love overflow. Where fear has gripped, let peace reign. Let Your Spirit make my heart a holy dwelling, where You are worshiped, honored, and adored. Forgive me for searching for fulfillment outside of You. For I have sought presence in people and peace in possessions, yet only You can satisfy. Rebuild my awareness of You until I walk through each day fully conscious that the Lord is here. Jehovah Shammah, I speak Your name over my family, my home, and my city, let every place that has been marked by pain become a habitation of Your healing. Let Your Presence turn broken spaces into altars of restoration and be the unseen guest in every room and the guiding hand in every decision. Lord, when the storms of life arise, remind me that You are not absent in the thunder, for You are standing in the midst of the waves declaring, “Peace, be still.” Be with those who grieve, those who battle illness, and those who are weary in waiting. Let Your nearness revive what despair tried to destroy. Holy Spirit, teach me to be a carrier of Your Presence and let the fragrance of Jehovah Shammah follow me wherever I go. When I enter a place, let Your peace enter with me. When I speak, let Your healing be released through my words because the Lord is there. Father, I declare that no place that I go will be empty, because You fill all things. No heart will remain hopeless, because Your light cannot be contained. Dwell richly in me, God. Make my life a living testimonies of what it means to walk with Jehovah Shammah. I Thank You for Jesus, who restored the bridge between God and man. Through His blood, the veil was torn, and the Presence of God became my inheritance and because of Him, You are not only there, you are here, within me and around me. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I rest in this truth, You were there, You are here, and You will always be with me, Jehovah Shammah, my refuge, my reminder, my resting place. Amen.

Nugget:
Jehovah Shammah, The Lord Is There: His presence is not promised to appear; it’s already abiding.

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean