Have you ever had a perfect day at the beach?
The kind where the sun doesn’t sting your skin and you can find a parking spot right by the sand-covered boardwalk. A day where there’s only a few lazy stragglers, so you can stare out at the vast horizon, uninhibited. There’s something about staring at the sea stretched out in front of you that makes you become so acutely aware of your own smallness. I love how when you’re laying on the beach, you feel so completely surrounded. From the smell of the saltwater and the whip of the wind, to the thunderous crash of waves crashing into the shoreline, there is no denying where you are. It’s unmistakable.
I find my relationship with God a lot like a day at the beach. I feel most at peace and most like myself when I feel God so powerfully, there is no denying His presence. In a season of isolation, I’ve found it difficult to feel close to Him, even when I want nothing more than to feel God like sunlight on my skin. But did you notice the key word there? Feel.
Just because I don’t feel close to God, doesn’t mean God hasn’t drawn me close. God doesn’t work like an ocean’s waves, stretching closer to me, only to pull back again.
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In fact, Psalm 145:18 says: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” While I love that the psalmist reminds me of God’s presence, the psalmist reminds me of a key part with my relationship with God: that I must come to him in truth. Coming to God in truth means we must be faithful and sincere in our dependence and devotedness to Him. When I feel God is far from me, am I posturing my heart correctly toward Him and His purpose or am I simply hoping I will just feel better?
If you feel disappointed by a sense of distance, take a few minutes and ask yourself:
- Do I truly make a habit of hearing from God? This one is a big one for me. With a husband, infant, full-time job in ministry and about a dozen other roles, I can sometimes feel a little stretched thin. But when the world leaves me running on fumes, God refuels me with the peace, compassion and strength I will need to continually live out my calling. While I wish I could say that I set an alarm and have an hour alone with God each morning (isn’t that the dream?), I do try to plan enough margin in my day to actively seek His presence and listen to what He has been impressing on my heart.
- Have I casted all my cares on Him? Raise your hand if you are the “I’m great, thanks!” girl. If i’m feeling unhappy, I would rather keep that to myself than make people uncomfortable with my feelings. If I’m feeling lonely, scared, rejected, depressed or anxious, I’ve made an unfortunate habit of riding the waves of my big emotions by myself. God doesn’t want us to feel flooded by our feelings, He wants us to bring it to him. Sometimes, when we feel closed off from God, it’s because we haven’t invited Him in. God wants to be involved and invited into our daily lives, even if our problems or feelings feel too insignificant for a great God because He cares for us.
- Am I ignoring or creating any barriers to my relationship with Him? Do you remember how I said that as a full-time worker, wife and mother that I found myself stretched a little thin? When I was wondering why I wasn’t hearing from God, I realized I wasn’t taking the time to listen. Seems simple, right? I found myself over-planning and overcommitting and wondering why I felt so overwhelmed. When I didn’t give myself enough margin in my day to be able to meet with God, I ended the day feeling depleted.
My barrier was people-pleasing and the inability to say “no.” Spend a few moments and ask God to reveal to you what barriers you might be struggling with. It could be the need to numb with mindless scrolling and entertainment, thwarting off loneliness by constantly being surrounded by people, or the guilt and shame of an unconfessed sin. Whatever your barrier is, Proverbs 8:17 says: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”
Have you made a habit of hearing from God? Let me know your best tips, tricks and habits to feel close to God in the comments below or join the conversation on social media (find me @ImKathrynHaines)
