Recently I’ve started to read through a Psalm and an Proverb each day. Typically, this is a spiritual discipline I try to start each day with. I am reminded of this hopeful expectation from the Scripture: I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 ESV). In the Scriptures, Jesus reminds us to abide in Him (see John 15:3-5). Because your relationship with Christ is the most important thing you will ever cultivate, I pray that you will spend time in prayer, studying the Scripture, and private worship every day.
Today I read through Psalm 107, there is a repeated theme throughout the text: Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. (Psalm 107:6) As you read the Psalm, you’ll discover a pattern: People wander and suffer apart from God, their suffering causes them to cry out to and seek the Lord, and in His gracious love, the God of creation does what only He can do.
As I look back over my life, there have been so many instances of great suffering, pain, grief, trials, and tribulation that drove me to my knees. In those moments, the Spirit of God graciously called me to Him and I experienced the love, grace, mercy, kindness, presence, and help of God. There seems to be a frustrating reality at work: In prosperity, man seems to forsake His creator. It often takes pain and suffering for God to capture our attention, then our affection, and then our heart.
I wonder how dramatically different our lives might look if instead of coming to God as our last resort, He was our first response. I wonder if instead of expecting a vibrant, intimate, strong relationship to happen by accident, we intentionally, intelligently, and regularly drew near to the Lord. There seems to be a spiritual premise in the Scripture where God calls on us to seek Him and draw near to Him as He draws near to us.
The writer of James reminds us this way: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8 ESV) I’m reminded that the type of relationship with God my soul is desperate for won’t happen by accident. This really shouldn’t be a surprise… every strong, meaningful, lasting relationship requires intentionality, perseverance, and determination. Here is the beautiful thing, when we draw near to God in faith, because we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, our loving heavenly Father draws near to us!
Today, I hope it won’t take trials and tribulations to drive you into the presence of God. It is my hope that each of us learns to truly treasure and yearn for a deeper relationship with God. Simply, let us learn to walk with Christ in prosperity and in pain. Let us draw near to Christ in the good times and the bad. Let us trust our gracious God with both the blessings and the frustrations. No matter where life finds you today, I hope you will cry out to the Lord and when He delivers you from your distress, praise Him and testify of His incredible love!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble (Psalm 107:1-2 ESV)
