--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us…" description: "\"God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems sometimes to be present, sometimes to be absent. If we do not know Him well, we do not realize th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/thomas-merton-231_absent_god-who-is-everywhere-never-leaves-us-ye_1655938.jpg" --- # God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems… ![“God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems sometimes to be present, sometimes to be absent. If we do not know Him well, we do not realize that He may be more present to us when He is absent than when He is present.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/thomas-merton-231_absent_god-who-is-everywhere-never-leaves-us-ye_1655938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/thomas-merton-231_absent_god-who-is-everywhere-never-leaves-us-ye_1655938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/thomas-merton-231_absent_god-who-is-everywhere-never-leaves-us-ye_1655938.jpg) > “God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems sometimes to be present, sometimes to be absent. If we do not know Him well, we do not realize that He may be more present to us when He is absent than when He is present.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine presence is paradoxical; when we feel distant, God may be working quietly within us. **In simple terms:** God can be felt most when we think He is gone. Key Takeaway Trust the unseen work of the divine. Themes faith presence paradox trust Mood contemplative reverent Type spiritual theological When to use this quote - personal crisis - prayer - grief - decision making - seeking meaning Key Concepts theology spirituality mysticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize God's work in moments of silence? - Can absence be a form of presence? A Different Perspective Human perception limits awareness of subtle spiritual activity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent/) [Absent Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent-know-705166/) [Absent Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent-present-705167/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God 's presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-presence/) [God Leaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-leaves-290410/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Present Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-absent-705168/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is rarely absent; it is we that know not of its presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/happiness-is-rarely-absent-it-is-we-that-know-not-of-its-presence/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [This is the sleep: being absent, being not present to the present moment, being somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-the-sleep-being-absent-being-not-present-to-the-present/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no good singing, there is only present and absent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/there-is-no-good-singing-there-is-only-present-and-absent/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [God is always present. He's never absent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-randymar/god-is-always-present-he-s-never-absent/) [Joel Randymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-randymar/) > [Friends, though absent, are still present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-though-absent-are-still-present/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gods have done a lot in the past, will do a lot in the future, but are always strangely absent from the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/gods-have-done-a-lot-in-the-past-will-do-a-lot-in-the-future-but-are/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“God is always present He is never absent God is always on time He is never late”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-a-smikle/god-is-always-present-he-is-never-absent-god-is-always-on-time-he-is/) [Maisie A. Smikle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-a-smikle/) > [“Is God present or is he absent? Maybe we can say now that in the center of our sadness for his absence we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/is-god-present-or-is-he-absent-maybe-we-can-say-now-that-in-the/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about his plans — I do not say for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-find-the-doing-of-the-will-of-god-leaves-me-no-time-for-disputing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [There are times when God leaves huge question marks as tools in our lives to stretch our our faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-are-times-when-god-leaves-huge-question-marks-as-tools-in-our/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Doing the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/doing-the-will-of-god-leaves-me-no-time-for-disputing-about-his-plans/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/god-never-leaves-us-alone-never-leaves-us-unaided-in-the-challenges/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“They said something funny. They said, 'Even God leaves on the last boat from Nome.' What does that mean?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sedgwick/they-said-something-funny-they-said-even-god-leaves-on-the-last-boat/) [Marcus Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sedgwick/) > [When I walk, I walk with God. He's always with me, He never leaves me and He will shine the light on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamcey-supsup/when-i-walk-i-walk-with-god-he-s-always-with-me-he-never-leaves-me/) [Shamcey Supsup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamcey-supsup/) > [I think God leaves me alone to let me find my own strength because no one else can give it to me. Sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-ward-harrison/i-think-god-leaves-me-alone-to-let-me-find-my-own-strength-because-no/) [Sabrina Ward Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-ward-harrison/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. 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The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Absent quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. 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