2 Corinthians 13:11

As for the rest, brothers, rejoice, be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

It seems here and elsewhere in the NT that God’s tangibly being with us is conditional upon our choices, on how we choose to live and think.

As we always clearly put forth, God’s love is unconditional. But God’s manifest presence? Well, it seems to be made dependent on a few things.

In this particular verse, Paul says to:

• rejoice
• be restored, or to grow and mature as humans in faith
• be encouraged, and probably means also to encourage others
• be of the same mind, be unified in our faith and belief in God, or think in the same way
• be at peace, live in the shalom of God, trusting in God’s goodness and power

And, as some translations have it, then the God of love and peace will be with you.

I guess it only makes spiritual sense that the God of love and peace will not experientially be with you while living in hate, disunity, lack of celebration, immaturity, discouragement to self and others, conflict, or disharmony.