“‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away?’”
– Jeremiah 23:23
I just love the Lord. There are so many things that make Him amazing, and one that always confounds me is how close He is to us, His children. Though He is the all-powerful Architect of the Universe, He is intimately acquainted with all of our ways. Whenever we cry out to Him, even with just the faintest whisper, He not only hears us, but He’s swift to answer. He’s faithful to let us know that we are seen and cared for in a manner that is personal to us. And while near is not something we normally think of the Almighty Deity being, our wondrous Savior is just that. Why, then, does He say in Jeremiah 23 that He is both close and far off? Though it might appear so, this isn’t a contradiction. Rather, when God speaks of being far away, He’s not indicating emotional austerity but “big picture” perspective. Because He is all-seeing and all-knowing, He provides answers to the deepest cries of our heart that are perfectly aligned with His will for our future…and the future of the world. Since He is the Beginning and the End of everything, His plans for our lives are part of His blueprint for all of Creation! My friend, your Savior is closer than you can fathom. You can come to Him with anything and everything, and He will never turn you away. He sees you, He hears you, He knows you, and it brings joy to His fatherly heart to help you navigate the waters of life. When He answers your prayers, He does so with the perspective of One who understands the fullness of human history. Because He stands outside of time, He is working all things together for your good in a way that glorifies Him and brings great blessing to others. He is both near and far away, and that makes Him the perfect solution to every problem you face! |
Prayer
Jesus, I am so thankful that you provide perfect answers to my prayers, because you have a “big picture” perspective.
Reflection
How does it impact you to know that the Lord is both near and far away?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
One Response
It is truly refreshing and encouraging to watch your programs. Your humility and sincerity is very rare and reminds me to be the same. Your family is a blessing. Thank you for being there.