God Says... "I will come near to you."

By Kely Braswell (Dangerous Breeze)

Far away, so close...

So, all my preacher friends tell me that God is everywhere. And I pretty much believe that.

But what about when it don't feel like it?!

What about when things ain't exactly goin' swimmingly, and the ends don't meet at the end of the month, and the people you love are sick of you, and it's been four days since I read any Psalms and I haven't even remembered the really weak prayers like "Oh, God, please bless my mashed potatoes, and make 'em really creamy?"

What about then?

What about when I'm standing in a wide expanse of nothingness, and I'm yellin', "God. Where ARE you?"

"Well, God's close. As close as your skin."

That's what people will say, those who know the proper theological, churchy, St. Francis and the Pope type answers to these things.

But does it matter if He's close, even if I don't feel Him? 'Cause sometimes "close" sure seems "far."

I think you know what I mean. And you. And you, and you and you. Every one of you, in fact.

If He's close, and I don't know it... I don't feel it... Does it matter?

It MATTERS.

Yes, it does. He is close -- always -- to His children.

A "for instance" for ya...

There was a time in my life where I wasn't seeking God. I was seeking girls. And music. I was seeking fun, satisfaction, seeking to avoid responsibility, and not much serious thinking was going on for the future. I wasn't praying. I wasn't engaged with Jesus. Nope.

And it was during that time that I was gonna graduate and had to make a decision to start working, or go to law school.

My decision for law school was made in a complete and total effort to keep having an easy life. I didn't want to start working yet. I liked school. (Not "school" exactly, but the lack of pressure the lifestyle provided.) It wasn't because I was "led by God" as I sought Him, prayed, listened to godly counsel, etc.

Nope, I made a 100% kelybreez-does-what's-best-for-him decision.

And this is what happened, because God was still standing close.

Really quickly I'll relay this... Met a girl in law school that I wouldn't have met if I didn't go... Married her... Had a TERRIBLE, HELLACIOUS first year of marriage... and consequently ran for help right into the arms of God... started working with the youth at church... was mentored by the youth pastor... did our church's missions training school... we got into missions... we started churches... we reached thousands and thousands of people with the gospel... we had six incredible kids... we have countless spiritual kids... (and it marches on...) All because, even when I wasn't feelin' the closeness, He was still there. He was close.

His mercy was overwhelming. His grace kept Him standing close.

Because He can't stand far from His child. Even when I'm a bumbling idiot who's not smart enough to seek Him. He accomplishes His purposes for my life. (Psalm 138:8)

Rest assured. He's close. You can't get away from His relentless pursuit of you, because He deeply wants relationship with you.

"Kely is a church planting team trainer with Antioch Ministries, International." He has a B.S. in Secondary Education, and he’s a lawyer on top of that (go figure that combination!). He has also been an overseas church planter off and on for the last 20 years. Kely is a husband and father to six, and enjoys running, reading and writing. You can find more of his writing over at his blog: Dangerous Breeze.