An old story is told about a couple who were celebrating their twentieth anniversary. As they drove together to the restaurant, the wife lamented, “We have grown distant from one another since we were first married. It has been years since I’ve felt close to you. I once sat next to you while you were driving.” The husband paused in silence then replied, “Well, I’m not the one who has moved.”
The lesson of this tale is sobering. Human relationships require close attention and persistent care. The same can be said of our relationship with God. Seasons of life do occur when God seems to be lightyears removed from us. John of the Cross described such experiences as the dark night of the soul. In such instances, the reason for God’s apparent absence is because we have moved. James, the brother of Jesus, offers a remedy to this problem: “Come near to God, and he will come near to you” (James 4:8, CEB).
Over the next month, I will be authoring a series of devotionals that I pray will help each of you grow closer in your relationship with God. Initially, drawing closer to God may feel overwhelming, discouraging, and impossible. Yet God assures us that He loves us unconditionally. He desires a deep and abiding relationship with us and wants us to come near.
However, like any relationship that has become strained and distant, ground cannot be gained in one grand gesture. Seeking after God begins with one step, then another, and another. Over the next thirty days, I will be taking you on a gentle journey that will lead you closer to the One whose love never ends.
To begin, take five minutes today and find an open space in nature, such as your backyard, a nearby park, or body of water. Open your eyes to the beauty of God’s creation and prayerfully repeat these words:
“Lord Jesus, forgive me for the distance I have created between us.
It’s time for your prodigal to come home. My arms are empty. My heart longs to be filled with your mercy.
I welcome you to make your presence real to me in these moments.” Amen.