For the most part, those in the world and those in the church could not be more different. But that does not mean they do not share a few similarities. Both Christians and non-Christians often feel as though God is far from them. That they are walking all alone and God has chosen to ignore them. That He doesn’t see or care about their problems. Nor do they feel as though God hears their cries. Scripture however teaches that this is not the case at all. Instead pointing to the fact that God is never far from anyone.
Acts 17:27 (ESV)
27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
Those who feel as though God is far from them are often the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. What’s amazing is that scripture says specifically that God is close to those people. Even when we get to that downtrodden state of feeling all alone God is right beside us. Our feelings may try to tell us the opposite is true but God’s word contains the truth.
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
If you are not a Christian that doesn’t mean God isn’t close to you. Faith or lack thereof does not determine how close we are to God. In fact, it is only due to God’s desire to draw close to His creation that we have the opportunity to have faith. Even when you have yet to turn your life to Christ He is closer to you than you know. Hoping that you will only open yourself to Him and place all your faith in Him. God’s greatest desire is that the lost will come to the knowledge of Him and be saved.
1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
No sin is so great it can separate you from the Lord. Nothing you do can create a gap so wide that it keeps God from reaching you. God is willing to reach into any situation and enter any place in order to offer you salvation. God can work with anyone anywhere. He is not afraid to help the broken, addicted, lustful, greedy, adulterous, or those counted as evil by the world. As Jesus said He didn’t come for those who think they are righteous but those who know they are sick.
Mark 2:15–17 (ESV)
15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Paul referred to himself as the chief among sinners for the persecution he inflicted on the early church. Yet, God was still close to him through it all, saved him, and even used him to do many great works. Allowing Paul to also refer to himself as an example that anyone regardless of their past life can be saved.
1 Timothy 1:15–16 (ESV)
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Wherever you may be God is there with you hoping that at any moment you will turn to Him. His arms are open to you always. Ready for when you decide to turn and embrace Him. He will accept you and bring you in just like the father of the prodigal son. The Bible says the angels rejoice when just one sinner turns in repentance. God is always close to you and is ready to rejoice over your salvation.
Luke 15:20–24 (ESV)
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:10 (ESV)
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
For those who have already placed their faith in Christ, it can at times feel like God is distant. But that is never the case. When a cloud covers the sun you know it is still there even though you can’t currently see or feel it. The same is true when it comes to God. You may not always be able to see or feel Him in your life but that doesn’t mean He isn’t there. If you will only keep trusting in Him soon the storm clouds will roll away revealing that God was with you the whole time.
Life can make it hard to tell just how close God is but that doesn’t change the facts. God said He will never leave us or forsake us. Scripture also makes it clear that God sees everything we do. Not only that but He has made us His temple by blessing us with the Holy Ghost. Meaning that not only is God close to us He is living inside of us.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Proverbs 15:3 (ESV)
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Jeremiah 23:24 (ESV)
24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
As Christians often feel as though God is far from us due to unanswered prayers. When God doesn’t answer we feel as though He doesn’t hear or care. A thought the enemy hopes will cause us to turn away from God. As Christians, we must trust in God’s own word and know that He truly hears every prayer we offer. Even when we don’t receive an answer or at least not the one we hoped for.
1 John 5:14–15 (ESV)
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
God is all-knowing and works in ways that we simply can’t understand. Often the best answer to prayer we can receive is silence. God chooses not to give us what we think we need because it could be detrimental to us or our faith down the road. While we can barely see the next turn God is able to see the final destination. Knowing how one small thing can have a greater effect we could never realize. God is also quick to provide the answer to the prayer we need and not the one we hoped for. Often causing us to miss His divine intervention in the first place. All this is to say that often God is working in our prayers and we never realize it.
1 John 3:20 (ESV)
20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
Psalm 147:5 (ESV)
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
Part of being a Christian is trusting in what you can’t see. So our walk with God must not be based on what we can feel and see. Instead, it must be founded on faith and trust. Feelings come and go as life changes. Sometimes it may seem like God is distant but we know that is never the case. Just as nothing is able to separate us from the love of God, nothing can separate us from God himself. Just keep trusting Him regardless and one day you will realize just how close he was when you thought he was at His farthest.
Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
No matter who you are, what you have been doing, what you can see, or even feel, know that God is never far from you. It is true for the sinner and the saint alike. God plants Himself firmly next to all people whether they know it or not. The Lord is even close to those who claim they want nothing to do with Him. All because He loves the whole world with no strings attached.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
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