Breakfast on the Beach – Entry 12
Psalm 73:28
How do I draw near to God? Turn around.
Have you ever heard someone talk about drawing near to God, probably referencing James 4:8? Sometimes people talk about being far from God, feeling disconnected, separated from Him. We often think about this in terms of getting closer to God or having an intimate personal connection to God. Do we really draw near to God? Are we far from him? Do we need to find Him and move closer to Him? I don’t really think so. I think God is always there, we just need to turn around.
I have a four year old daughter and we go to the beach all the time. I take her down to the water and she stands in the surf, calling out each time a wave comes toward us, squealing with a strange mixture of joy and fear. I stand right behind her within arms reach, ready to prop her up, give her strength, give her direction, and pick her up just before she falls into the water. I want her to have the experience of being in front of the waves, feeling the force, getting knocked about; but I don’t want her to be hurt or panicked.
When she moves I move. When she walks out further I walk. When she walks away from me and forgets to stay close, I follow her. I don’t look at her and say, “You silly little girl you should be smart enough to stay close, when you come back, I will again protect and care for you.” I move, follow, and react; even when she doesn’t see me.
In reality, I am always there, standing behind her. All she has to do is turn around to be certain of my presence. Of course, her certainty or lack thereof has no impact on my presence. I am there without regard to whether she knows it, believes it, and takes comfort in it. When something goes wrong and she makes a bad decision, I am there. She calls to me and I direct her back to safety, give her some instruction, and we start again.
Drawing near to God is about realization not relocation.
God is there with you, wherever you go, He is there. Sometimes He is not happy with your path and position; but he doesn’t abandon you and expect you to find your back to Him. He expects you to turn around, confess your condition, and then move with Him to where He wants you to be.
God is big. He is bigger than us. We have no need for a small God. Imagine God as Mt. Everest, standing tall and steadfast at over 29,000 feet. But unlike Everest, His foundation is not buried deep in the ground; it is buried deep in the love He has for His Children. Unlike Everest, His foundation allows the all powerful creator and sustainer of the universe to move and shift to be close to you, behind you, with you.
God, by His very nature, is near. Turn around and look up.
