Sometimes, we find ourselves in a spiritual dry land. We know what we should do and who we should be, but those ideals and places seem distant.
We go through the motions, only to find ourselves farther away from where we want to be and nowhere closer to God. We’ve lost what we had found and are unsure how to find it again.
When is the last time I spent meaningful time in God’s Word?
When is the last time I really worshiped God with my congregation?
When is the last time I had a refreshing spiritual conversation with a friend?
When is the last time I spontaneously prayed because my heart was moved by someone or something?
We find the answers to these questions unacceptable, yet we feel trapped by their unchangeability. The answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind (sorry, Bob Dylan) but residing within.
Let me encourage you: God is no farther away than a moment of humility. He is no harder to find than through the closed eyes of a simple prayer. In these spiritually dry times, the question is not Where is God? but Where am I?
The truth we need in these times is this: God’s love will never run out, even when we think our love for Him has. He is there. His love is inexhaustible.
Listen to one of the more beautiful poetic moments in Scripture from the prophet Jeremiah:
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.” (Jeremiah 31:3-4 NKJV)
The prophet was speaking of Israel’s pre-desert wandering in the opening line. Notice that God’s love for her never ran out, even after Israel’s dry spiritual wandering. In fact, God promised, through His prophet’s words, that Israel will be rebuilt spiritually.
Later in that 31st chapter, the prophet would speak of a New Covenant, one that would be put into the hearts of God’s people: “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (v. 33).
Here is what the same promise of everlasting love looks like in this New Covenant Jeremiah spoke of:
I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
God’s love never runs out. He is still right there, no matter where you are or where you’ve been.
Will you pursue Him? If you will, here are five statements I want to encourage you to make.
God:
I will give You all my heart until Your love runs out.
I will pour out my soul to You until Your mercy is an empty cup.
I will run after You until You breathe Your last breath.
I will lift my voice to You until Your compassion fails.
I will trust in You alone until Your Word is no longer true.
Of course, His love will never run out, nor will His mercy become an empty cup, nor will His Word be proven untrue.
You can never be the one to whom God says, “Sorry, I do not have enough ( fill in the blank ) for you.”
Today is the best day to begin afresh. God is no further away than a moment of humility. He is no further away than a simple prayer.
God is there.