Encountering God - God Who Stays

Consider this: who is God in this moment?

This question has been staying with me lately, not as something to answer quickly, but as something to return to again and again. In the middle of ordinary days—teaching, accompanying others, listening to stories filled with both hope and heaviness—I find myself pausing with it.

Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God is not distant or abstract, but present and active in the here and now. God meets us not only in prayer or retreat, but in conversations, in uncertainty, in moments of fatigue, and in quiet faithfulness. God is always at work. The invitation is simply to notice.

Who Is God for Me Right Now?

In this season of my life, I have been encountering God less as the One who fixes, but more as the One who stays. God as Companion. God as Presence. God is the One who walks beside me without rushing me toward answers or clarity.

This has become especially clear as I accompany others—people navigating grief, discernment, uncertainty, or questions without easy answers. Again and again, I notice that God does not demand certainty before offering presence. God shows up quietly, patiently, faithfully.

Recently, during a hospital visit with a loved one I was accompanying, there was no advice to give and no solution to offer—only space to be. As I allowed myself to be fully present as they received care, I noticed my own desire to “do something” fall away. What remained was a deep sense of stillness and trust. In that moment, it felt as though God was saying, “This is enough. Stay.” I left the hospital aware that God had been present the entire time, not in words or outcomes, but in shared silence and attentive listening.

God in the Work of Accompaniment

The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus feels close to my heart right now. They are confused and disappointed, unsure of what comes next. Jesus does not immediately explain everything. He walks with them. He listens. He asks questions. Only later do they recognize him in the breaking of the bread.

So often, that is how God meets us too—already present, even when we don’t yet recognize him.

Ignatian wisdom reminds us that we are not the source of transformation; God is. Our role is to listen, to notice where God is moving, and to respond with trust. In these days, I have encountered God as Listener, as Advocate of dignity, and as Hope—not a loud or easy hope, but a steady presence that whispers, “Even here, I am with you.” At times, I want to fix the problems my loved ones are facing, but this is not the role I am called to right now. I wait with love and hope that God is with me, giving me the grace I need to accompany those who need me.

Finding God in all things also means finding God in uncertainty, in waiting, and in the not-yet-clear. God does not withdraw from these spaces. God dwells within them.

Who Am I to God in This Moment?

This question has been just as important for me to sit with.

Who am I to God in this moment, as I truly am?

Some days, I am tired.

Some days, I am still discerning.

Some days, I simply show up and listen.

Ignatian prayer invites honesty. God already knows our interior landscape; prayer allows us to meet God there. When I sit with this question, I am often reminded that God’s response is not judgment or expectation, but love.

These are questions I’m still living into. I don’t have clear answers, but I’m learning to notice where God feels close and how that presence shapes the way I show up. And in that noticing, I’m discovering that God is often closer than I expect.

Who is God for you in this moment?

Going Deeper

• Ground yourself in the presence of God, offered to you as friendship, praying with A Friendship Like No Other by William A. Barry, SJ

• Bring God more deeply into your everyday moments with Seeing with the Heart: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Adventures by Kevin O’Brien, SJ

• Find practical steps in encountering God in the present moment with Beth Knobbe’s blog post Jesus Meets Us Along the Way.

Photo by Liz Aceves.

Thank you!

The “Into the Deep” weekly blog is a free offering to live our mission of accompaniment. If someone forwarded this to you, please be sure to sign up at the bottom of this website page so that you receive an email each week with the new blog.

Comment!

If something our writers shared resonates with you, please feel free to write a positive and uplifting comment by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

Support Us!
You can help support this free offering with a small monthly donation! Your recurring generosity enables us to continue building our home of accompaniment. If you would like to donate, please do so here.

Liz Aceves

Liz Aceves is a retreat facilitator and spiritual companion whose ministry centers on creating spaces for people to encounter God through prayer, reflection, and community. As Community Coordinator for Ignatian Ministries, Liz helps lead and organize virtual prayer groups, spiritual book clubs, and retreat offerings that support individuals in deepening their relationship with God. She also serves on Ignatian Ministries apostolic board committee.

She has co-facilitated Advent and Lent retreats, both virtually and in person, and she finds great joy in accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through the prayer practices of Ignatian Spirituality. Liz’s own spiritual life has been shaped by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which continue to ground her in ministry and prayer.

She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Pastoral Studies through the Loyola Institute for Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans, further deepening her formation and commitment to lay ministry as a Catholic school educator with a decade of experience teaching Spanish. Her love for working with children and teaching them about their faith and language has been a constant source of inspiration. Liz believes that learning a second language is essential in fostering acceptance and understanding among people of different cultures. Liz lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons and enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.