God is Closer Than You Think

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

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Life has a way of leading us to unexpected places. There are twists and turns on the road of life that leave us confused, surprised, or completely drained.

It is in these seasons that we can experience many mixed feelings.

There can be a temptation to believe that God has forsaken us or that He remains silent despite our constant pleas for relief during these troubled times.

However, our feelings are not a stable ground for us to place our hope. That is not to say that our emotions do not matter. Rather, it is simply acknowledging that they have the potential to lead us astray if we let them run our lives.

There is a need to seek truth in every circumstance.

When we seek to discern the truth from lies (attacks from the enemy), even at our lowest times, we are pointed to the right path.

And to do this, we seek the Word.

It tells us of an ongoing story in which there is a God pursuing His beloved children.

He sees us.

We encounter the One who gives us comfort, strength, and companionship by holding onto the truth.

Scripture says that He is close to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18). God is able to heal and restore the brokenness inside of you and bind your wounds (Psalm 34:18). He sees the tears that were cried in secret and has a heart of compassion. The Psalmist writes:

“You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8)

This is the God we serve.

If we wait on the Lord, we can experience the beauty of His tender love filling our hearts.

God may speak to you in a variety of ways to show you that He cares.

It may be revealed in the peace as you watch the sunset, knowing that the Creator has gifted you another day. It could be found in a loved one who has never left your side and encouraged you even when you did not see your worth. It could be discovered in the form of medical treatment, knowing that the God who sustains has provided these resources for your healing.

We may be tempted to think that these things would have happened anyways.

But make no mistake; the Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). These are all reminders that He has not forsaken you.

He sees your pain, the burden you are carrying today and loves you with a love that never changes.

I encourage you, dear friend, to continue setting your gaze on Him. Even if you are tired or if you feel like you have nothing left.

He still cares for you.

In speaking about his relationship with God in the book Confessions, St Augustine wrote:

“You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back.”

If you are a child of God, He is not far from you.

In fact, He is alot closer than you think.

Will you keep your eyes on Him, no matter what comes?

In Christ,