Right Where We Need Him

 

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? Deuteronomy 4:7

Do you ever feel like God has been missing in action? Today I had lunch with a friend who expressed that “feeling”. She had been feeling like God was far from her. She admitted that her busy schedule and even, perhaps, a little laziness were the problem and not God. He had shown up today in a small way as if to remind her of His presence.

This was a little convicting for me to hear. I had been “feeling” that way as well. I didn’t have any hard evidence that God was far from me I was just not feeling like I was seeing Him do what I thought He should be doing. I’ve been dealing with some issues in which I wanted people to see things my way and change their minds. They didn’t so I am wondering why God doesn’t make them see how right I am. How foolish can I be?!

This is a process that has been going on for several weeks. In that time I have prayed about God speaking to the people involved, about how I should respond to them, and about the effect the situation is having on many innocent by standers. I didn’t see the answers that I was expecting to see.

What I realized today is that we operate on our beliefs. Because I believe God will answer prayer I wanted Him to do it my way. I know the truth that God will answer the prayers of His people. I know that He is near when I call on Him. I know He is my refuge when I need Him. I learned a long time ago that He is completely trustworthy and lovingly kind to me ALL the time. He is faithful.

I think that the silence or absence that I feel is happening is God’s way of asking me to wait for Him. While I was waiting today I made a list of what God has done for me lately. It was eye opening.

In the midst of my difficult circumstances I listed 31 blessings – ranging from the giggles of my granddaughter to the dance lessons my husband and I are taking. It also included some great lessons from the Inductive Bible Study on the Book of Jonah that I’m doing right now (fodder for another post).

It was absolutely amazing to me what God has been doing for me when I thought He was doing nothing. I was paying attention to the negative and not looking for the positive. This was one of those days when iron sharpened iron. My friend being willing to confess that her schedule and attitude had put the distance between her and God opened my eyes. When she cried out to God about it He immediately reminded her that He was right there – in fact he had never left.

So, I will wait to see how He answers my prayers. I will look for His blessings and remember that no nation has a god so near to it as our God is near to us when we call on Him. He is always right where we need Him!

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Psalm 73:28