Take Time to Notice!

Fresh Manna 2009© by Renee Burt

Do you ever have days or weeks when you feel like God seems distant or far away? Why is that? Is it because He’s busy taking care of the needs of people in third world countries…and He just needs you to get by without His help for awhile? Or is it because He’s upset with you about your recent behavior and is giving you the proverbial “cold shoulder?” Or is it because He needs you to grow up and stop depending on Him so much? I don’t think so…in fact, that couldn’t be further from the Truth! So why do we have those times when He seems galaxies away, and our relationship with Him feels about as warm as an iceberg?

I know that in my life, I’ve noticed that those times aren’t because God isn’t paying attention to me. It’s because I’m not paying attention to Him, and noticing all the myriad of ways He is daily attempting to demonstrate His love and nearness to me…like last week. I had to take a flight alone to another city. I was feeling anxious about the trip, tired, and emotional that morning. Well, the flight began to fill up…but no one came to sit in the seat next to me. And it was as if I heard the Lord say, “I’ll sit next to you…I’ll be with you during this entire trip…and I’ll even hold your hand.” Now, I’m rather pragmatic by nature, so I don’t usually do what I did next. But I leaned in towards the seat next to me, put my hand over into the seat, imagined I took His hand…and I felt the tenderness and nearness of Him in that moment. I was reaching out to be close to Him, and He was there for me in the sweetest way that reminded me He is always close, always near. He’s near to you too…He’s never far away…you’ll discover He’s as close as the space next to you, if you’ll just take the time to notice.

James 4:8 NLT ~ Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.

Psalm 63:8 NLT ~ I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

More devotions from Renee’s Fresh Manna