Marked by His Presence: When People Know We’ve Been with God
There’s something unmistakable about a person who has been with God.
In Exodus 34:29-30, we read that “it came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai… that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him.”
Moses didn’t try to look different. He didn’t put on a glowing mask or coat himself in glory. The radiance of his face was simply a byproduct of having been in the presence of God. And even more remarkably, Moses himself was unaware of it. It wasn’t something he tried to project—it was something others could not help but notice.
That’s the essence of true transformation. When we spend time with God—real, intentional, surrendered time—it marks us. It changes us. And that change is often visible, not because we’re trying to impress others with our spiritual stature, but because the presence of the Lord is that powerful.
A Radiance the World Can’t Replicate
Moses' glowing face is an extreme example, but the same principle is seen throughout Scripture. In Acts 4:13, after Peter and John had boldly testified about Jesus to the Sanhedrin, we’re told:
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and they began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”
Their education didn’t convince the leaders. Their eloquence didn’t sway them. But their courage, their clarity, and the unmistakable presence of Jesus shining through their lives—that was undeniable. The religious leaders could not explain their boldness any other way. These men had been with Jesus.
From Fearful to Fearless
That transformation is powerful. Consider Peter again. Before the crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus three times. He was terrified of being associated with Him. But after the resurrection—and after the coming of the Holy Spirit—he stood boldly before crowds and councils, proclaiming Christ without hesitation.
The difference? He had not only been with Jesus physically—he was now filled with the Spirit of God. And the presence of God radiated from him, not in beams of light, but in courage, conviction, and clarity.
Joseph in Egypt
In Genesis 39, we’re told repeatedly that “the Lord was with Joseph.” Whether as a slave in Potiphar’s house or a prisoner in Pharaoh’s dungeon, there was something unmistakably different about Joseph. Potiphar noticed it. The prison warden noticed it. Pharaoh noticed it.
After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and laid out a plan of wisdom for saving Egypt from famine, Pharaoh declared,
“Can we find a man like this, in whom there is a divine spirit?” (Genesis 41:38, NASB).
Even a pagan ruler could recognize God’s presence in Joseph. He didn’t have theological language for it, but he knew there was something sacred, something other-worldly about Joseph’s demeanor, wisdom, and integrity.
Stephen’s Glowing Face
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was also visibly marked by God’s presence. As he gave his defense before the council in Acts 6, we read:
“And fixing their eyes on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15, NASB).
It wasn’t just his eloquence or his Scripture-filled speech. There was a glory about him. A reflection of the One he served. Even in the moments before his death, Stephen radiated heaven.
The Scent of Christ
Paul puts it another way in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15:
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
There is an aroma to a life lived in Christ. Just as a person who spends time in a bakery carries the smell of fresh bread, or someone who has been near a campfire carries the scent of smoke, a person who has spent time in God’s presence carries His fragrance.
It may convict some. It may draw others. But it is unmistakable.
Jesus’ Time in Prayer
Even Jesus modeled this. Though He was God incarnate, He constantly withdrew to be alone with the Father. Luke 5:16 tells us, “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”
And what happened when He returned? He healed the sick. He cast out demons. He taught with authority. Power flowed from His time in the Father’s presence.
In Luke 9, after Jesus had gone up a mountain to pray, He returned and immediately healed a demon-possessed boy whom His disciples had been unable to help. The Father’s presence prepared Him for the task.
What About Us?
This isn’t just for Moses, Peter, or Stephen. This is for us. We, too, can live lives marked by His presence. Jesus made a way for us to boldly approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). And as we do, we are changed.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18,
“But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”
The more we behold Him, the more we become like Him.
Let Them See Him in You
We live in a world desperate for something real. People are tired of empty religion and performative spirituality. But when someone walks into a room filled with peace, love, and quiet strength—and that someone has clearly been with God—it speaks louder than any sermon.
May we be those people.
May we be like Moses, who glowed from the mountain.
Like Peter and John, bold and unshaken.
Like Joseph, wise and upright.
Like Stephen, radiant even in death.
Like Jesus, who flowed with power because He spent time in prayer.
And may it be said of us—not because of our credentials, charisma, or accomplishments—but because of our quiet, Spirit-shaped lives:
“They have been with Jesus.”
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John… they were amazed, and they began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”
— Acts 4:13, NASB