Thursday, April 6, 2023

Thankful Thursdays: God is close


It’s Thursday and I’m thankful God is always closer than I realize.

Last night (April 5), I was discouraged because for months now, I have asked God to show me how to get closer to Him. The crazier our world becomes, the more important it is to have a close relationship with God and follow Jesus Christ’s lead. But to me, my prayers to God were met by radio silence from Him. And in the process, it felt like I was drifting farther away from Him. 

The silence and distance felt devastating. I asked God over and over again how to be closer to Him. I asked Him to help me feel His presence and experience His peace but still it felt like He wasn't answering me nor drawing near to me.

I am also a perfectionist and an overachiever. I know that God speaks to His people through His Word. So I bought a new study Bible in hopes that reading through it from Genesis to Revelation, would help me become closer to God. Yet despite my best efforts to draw closer to Him, God still felt distant to me and I was becoming more and more discouraged by this situation. 

However, in the midst of my discouragement and feeling far away from God last night, He put a song on my heart that I hadn’t heard nor thought of in almost two decades. The song is called “You Were Much Closer” by Fred Hammond and the lyrics remind the listener that God is always present in your life. The lyrics also encourage the listener by saying God is much closer than you realize! 

The Holy Bible says God will NEVER leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus Christ promises to be with us until the END of the world (Matthew 28:20) and He means that in the most literal sense!

God often speaks to my heart through songs. When I look up the lyrics and listen to the song on YouTube, it’s always exactly what I need in that moment.

Last night was no different. God met me in my situation through this song. And I am so grateful. I think He also was letting me know that I don’t need to perform my way into a closer relationship with Him. God just wants us to trust Him and let Him lead. I am determined now to remember that God is not far away and out of my reach. He’s right here with me, in fact, He is closer than I realize!

What are you thankful for today?

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA
Founder of "God is Love" blog

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