Because he loves Me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him; for he acknowledges My name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:14-16.

I was thinking yesterday about how there was a before and after in my knowing Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. John 17:3. The before was when God seemed very far away without much impact upon my life except when I prayed; but when He seemed far away, my prayers ascended only so far and then I returned to my life without Him near. Attending church services on a Sunday morning growing up lasted an hour and that was it. Later, attending a church stressing God’s laws above all else, I began to read the Bible but still, He seemed unapproachable and still far away. Only now, there was fear of messing up and becoming critical of everyone else not honoring God’s laws. I missed the uncomplicated joy and love and longing I had for Jesus as a child! Is that what maturing in knowing God meant? No joy, just obedience? And then that not to be denied moment when I realized I was so angry with God for allowing the awful things that were happening in our world. I think it was then that I sincerely talked with Him for the very first time with honesty and need. Why? Why are You allowing this to happen to children? Obedience fell away. One hour worship fell away. Everything that came before that conversation with Him fell away. And He answered with a book sitting on my chair at home sent 3 days before that moment of great need. A devotional book restoring my faith in people and in God. Yesterday, I realized that the walk He and I have walked together from that moment of need has been so gentle and gradual and needed. And the operative word is together. I need God and He is here. He is with me and I am with Him. And in my mind’s eye even as I am writing this, I see more than this world filled with brokenness, hate, violence, and hurt. I see the heart of Creator God loving us. He has always loved us and He will always love us. He is the one showing us the only way forward and it is with Him helping us. Does God seem far away to you? You can take a step toward the greatest and most wonderful walk you will ever embark upon. You can’t do it alone. We were never meant to walk this walk alone. We are meant to walk this walk in closeness with Him. And as we walk with Him, He will open doorways of understanding – paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. And for ours! The choice is yours. It has always been yours. To choose life with Creator God. He’s here. Always. Loving you and caring for your good in Him.