WHEN GOD FEELS FAR AWAY

   There are times in life when God feels far away. It is usually when adversity strikes, things are tough, and aren’t going well. But, scripture reminds us that even though God may seem far away, he never really is.

   “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.” (Acts.17:26-27).

   GOD’S IMMENSITY. God is never far away because of his immense size. “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” (Jer.23:24; 2Chr.6:18). Trying to escape God’s sight is like a tiny red ant trying to escape ours. He may be unaware we are watching and even believe we are far away because of our enormous size when we are right there all along.

   GOD’S OMNISCIENCE. God cannot be far away from anything or anyone he thoroughly knows inside and out. He knows everything; our thoughts, our ways, and what we are going to say even before we say it (Ps.139:1-4; Jn.2:24-25). “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18). God fully understands how we feel and what we go through (Heb.4:15). Therefore, he is never far away.

   GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE. God is not far away because he is everywhere. There is no escaping his presence. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up to heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Ps.139:7-8). Wherever we are, God is there. “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” (Job 34:21).

   God is never far away, but his help and salvation are far from the wicked who refuse to do his will (Ps.119:155; Is.59:1-2). Nevertheless, he is always near and willing to help those who do his will (Ps.34:15-17; Pr.15:29).

                                                        Richard Stevens III