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Friday, December 31, 2021

When God Seems Far Away

In Jeremiah 29:13 I read, “When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed." (The Message)


No matter how far I am from God today, there is a pathway back to him. I get back to him from these three things.


First, realize I need to change. Nothing is going to change in my life until I get dissatisfied with the way I am. I need to get to the point where I say, “I don’t like this. I’m tired of being stressed out all the time. I’m tired of being frustrated all the time. I’m tired of being overworked all the time. I’m tired of feeling distant from God.”


Why does God let me get to this point? Because he loves me just the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. He does not want me me waste my life.


God says in Jeremiah 29:13, “When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed” (The Message).


Second, own up to my sin. Isaiah 59:2 says, “The trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you” (TLB).


There are times when I pray, but feel like God was a million miles away or like there was a wall between us.


Where does that distance come from? My sins have separated me from God. But if I feel far from God, guess who moved? I did! God has always been there. He loves me unconditionally, and he’s waiting for me to own up to my sin so I can have a right relationship with him again.


Lastly, give up control. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (NCV).


True transformation happens when my heart moves from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. Am I there yet?


That transformation doesn’t happen overnight. God is going to work on me my entire life. But to start the process, I have to make a decision to repent and, “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your [body] as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1 NIV).


God wants to be close to me. And he promises that when I seriously seek him, I will not be disappointed. Watch expectantly how God works in my life this coming year as I seek him with all my heart, mind, and soul.


In summary, when I get serious about finding God and wanting it more than anything else, God will make sure that I’m not disappointed. No matter how far I am from God today, there is a pathway back to him. I get back to him from these three things. First, realize I need to change. Nothing is going to change in my life until I get dissatisfied with the way I am. Why does God let me get to this point? Because he loves me just the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. He doesn't want me to waste my life. Second, own up to my sin. There are times when I pray, but feel like God was a million miles away or there's a wall in between us. My sins have separated me from God. But if I feel far from God, guess who moved? I did! God has always been there. He loves me unconditionally, and he’s waiting for me to own up to my sin so I can have a right relationship with him again. Lastly, give up control. True transformation happens when my heart moves from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. That transformation doesn’t happen overnight. God is going to work on me my entire life. But to start the process, I have to make a decision to repent. God wants to be close to me. He promises that when I seriously seek him, I will not be disappointed


God says, If I look for him wholeheartedly, I will find him. According to God's wise plan, his people were to have hope and a future; consequently, they could call upon him in confidence. Although the exiles were in a difficult place and time, they did not need to despair because they had God's presence, the privilege of prayer, and God's grace. God can be sought and found when I seek him wholeheartedly. Neither strange lands, sorrows, frustration, nor physical problems can break my communion with God. 

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