Our proximity to God significantly affects how we are developed into His image, as He sharpens us. When God's face shines upon us, it is a sign that we are in His favor, that He is watching over and caring for us. When He lifts His countenance upon us, He is providing His blessing, approval, and peace. Contact with God helps form and shape us into His image, revitalizing us so that we are sharp and ready for what lies ahead.

In the Garden of Eden, God's righteous Holy Spirit emanated from Him, shielding and protecting Adam and Eve from any influence of satan. As long as God was their sole Companion, sin was never an issue, and there was no spirit of conflict with Him or His way. Their minds were untouched by anything base, seeing all of God's creation as beautiful and without distortion. However, when God withdrew to allow the next step of His purpose, which included the challenge by the serpent, sin entered, and their perspective changed. God's countenance and presence have a transformative effect. When Moses was in the presence of God on the mountain, receiving the law, his face shone, reflecting God's glory upon his return. Similarly, those who consecrate themselves before God, following through with their vows, can ask for His benediction to make their faces shine, glorifying Him. This shining face, as a reflection of God's wisdom and presence, transforms a person's appearance and manner, lifting the burdens of life and displaying the joy of being free in Him. Wisdom, rooted in the knowledge of God, also changes a person's look. As Solomon illustrates, when wisdom is attained, a person's face lights up, showing the impact of godly understanding. This transformation, evident in examples like Daniel and his friends, who followed God's guidance and shone in appearance and mind, demonstrates how God's wisdom alters not just conduct but also one's very presence, reflecting His influence in their lives.

In book two of the Psalms, the emphasis on God's name as Elohim, mentioned 164 times compared to Yahveh's 30 mentions, directs our focus to God as the mighty Creator. This name, rooted in the idea of strength and power, urges us to see Him as the Almighty Being who can foil any enemy's plan against us. No trial, no matter how mountainous it seems, can stand before Him, for He created the mountains and can move or destroy them at will. His intelligence as Elohim is evident in the intricate design of the world, from the states of water to the precise positioning of the earth, ensuring life thrives. If He can orchestrate such vast systems, surely He can solve our smaller problems with His boundless wisdom and power. Moreover, in Psalms 42-43, the Psalmist, in deep distress and feeling far from God, yearns for His presence. He questions his own despair, urging himself to hope in God, believing that he will yet praise Him as the help of his countenance. This reflects a longing to see God's face turned toward him again, to feel His attention and lovingkindness as part of their covenant relationship. The Psalmist anticipates that God's countenance will lift his depression, restoring communication and comfort, as a lullaby soothes a child in the night. By the refrain's repetition, he grows to understand that not only is God's attention on his plight, but His power as Elohim is at work, creating something special within him, slowly turning his attitude from despair to hope. The journey through trials in these Psalms teaches us to trust in God's ever-present gaze. Even when we feel forsaken, His face is always turned toward us, watching and working. As Elohim, the perfect Creator, He does not discard failures but continues to shape us through trials, ensuring that His will is accomplished. We must persevere, recognizing that His countenance remains upon us, guiding us to grow in character and endure until His purpose is fulfilled.