Just How Close Is God?

by Kathy Jean Lynch

Read

John 15:4-5

Reflect

A recent sentence from the March 15 Henri Nouwen devotional, Everything that Belongs to Jesus is Given for Us to Receive, speaks to how we “emphasize the distance between Jesus and ourselves”.

I want to share a mantra I have had for a long time now. How many times do we hear, “God be with you” or “God is with you”? Every Sunday we say it as a response — but guess what? It rolls off and spills onto the floor like water off a duck’s back. We wade around in it for a while, then it evaporates and we go about our business.

Then we wonder, as we go about our sad and pitiful day, “where is God in all this?” Well, next time you think this, stop – I mean literally STOP! Take a deep, deep breath and hold it a moment, slowly let it out; put your hand on your heart or find your pulse; keep it there for at least 10 seconds or more; now pinch your skin from head to toe.

Why? Because that is how God is with you!

Not for this second or that minute or today and not tomorrow.

As you breathe, and your heartbeats, and your skin surrounds your innards keeping everything where it belongs: this is God with you! As you breathe and move and think and bleed, so does God!

And there is absolutely nothing you can do to remove God. If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God has permeated, and invaded every micro piece of you. You are never ever alone.

How can you purposely remember that you are never ever alone?

Respond

Lord help me remember You will never ever leave me alone and when I see only one set of footprints that means You are carrying me. Amen

Remember

Repeat after me: “God is closer than the air in my lungs, the blood in my veins, and the skin on my bones!”

Comment below or use a journal to record how God is with you each day of this journey.