Following up from the last post, we need to clear up what exactly we are suggesting when we affirm that God is both immanent and immediate. In other words, if God is with me in every situation, then why doesn't every situation immediately change, experience an encounter, or improve through His uninterrupted/non-mediated means? (Good question, by the way!) What I would like to suggest is that God is with us, but His method and intentions are often misunderstood or completely ignored.
God is Communal
First, we need to understand that God is communal. This means that the God of the universe is not only sovereign and perfect (without need or weakness), but He exists in community with His creation (everything other than Him, which includes angels and the like). God doesn't need to be with us or anything else, but He does want to be with us. Perhaps (no, definitely), this is why God is said to be revealed through LOVE (I John 4:8). Love requires (cannot exist) without an object to love and a source that gives love. The trinity affirms this notion, and so does the Bible narrative of God and His interaction with creation. From the beginning (Genesis), God shows up without invitation or prompting to interact with His creation. Pretty cool, and pretty encouraging...for us.
So, not only can we rightfully affirm that God is, in fact, with us, but also that His doing so is not only a result of His will, but also His love for us. BUT, then why doesn't He perfectly fix every problem immediately, if at all? Crappy (lazy) theologians have suggested this is because God doesn't want to fix every problem, but wants us to know pain/suffering so we might learn from it...or at least know His perfect goodness. That's dumb. I don't allow my kids to play with fire so they can know the pain of a burn. That's abuse. God is not an abuser. If we look a little more comprehensively at the Bible, instead of simply looking at an isolated verse or passage, we will find the answer is quite clear.
We are Communal
Almost every scientist agrees that human beings are social creatures. Physically, emotionally, and psychologically, we need the interaction of another human being. (I know there are a few people who live and think otherwise, but the very fact that they tell people they don't need people is evidence that that they need other people in their life.) As a Christian, we can also easily affirm this truth because our Bible tells us that human beings are all created in the 'image of God.' This means that we share some of God's qualities...which, includes the capacity to love and be loved, want and need community.
Since Genesis 2, man has been seeking out a community and object/source of his love. This takes place in marriage, family, nationhood and, ultimately, in and through the church. But what about God? Exactly. You see, Biblically speaking, all of the examples and means of man's loving community (marriage, family, nationhood and church) are derived from God. He gave Adam, Eve; Abraham, Isaac; Jacob, the Nation of Israel; and, the world, the Church. These are all God's gifts to us so that we might know love, satisfy our need for love, and, in no small feat, live an immediately improved life. But, there is an even better truth...
God exists in Community
God not only gives us community, He exists within the chosen community. God declares that He is present in the community, and this is to be understood both literally and representatively. When the tabernacle was present before the nation of Israel, God was with them. When the ark occupied the Temple, God was with them. When Jesus walked the earth and ministered to the people, God was with them. Where the church is present today, God is with us. This is consistent, this is content, this is truth. God is immanently with us in all of our situations and, therefore, He is immediately available to meet our needs, directly and through the community.
I believe that God not only dwells with us, but that He also wants to aid us in every situation. He may not deliver us from every situation, but He does want to aid and comfort us. Yes, we should expect help, and immediate help, when we pray. God may directly intervene, but from the Scriptures and church history, His primary means of presence and aid is His representative 'body,' the Church. That means that you and I, as Believers and representatives, need to make ourselves available as the literal 'hands, feet, expression' of God's power, aid and presence to those in need. People may be looking 'up' for their solution, but, according to the context of Scripture, you and I should be looking to our left and right.
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