It has been said: ‘If you feel far from God, guess who moved.’ And, while the quote itself isn’t the most helpful and doesn’t provide the best guidance, it’s a great reminder that God longs to be close to us. If we accept him, He never leaves us. He never stops listening.
However, there are times when life places us in circumstances that threaten our faith in this truth. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, so, we’ve provided a list of scriptures that remind us that God is closer than ever, even in our difficult seasons. Each scripture points to a promise or a time that shows God’s faithfulness and intimacy with those who follow him…
God promises to be with Moses as he carries out God’s instruction to lead the Israelites in Exodus 33:14:
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
David reflects on God’s willingness to deal with sin and be with us as we pursue righteousness in Psalm 32:8:
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
God strengthens Jeremiah even in the midst of his enemies and enemies of God in Jeremiah 1:19:
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
God reaches out when his people are in captivity and promises to draw near again in Jeremiah 29:12:
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
God reminds us of the joy he has, concerning his people and that he is closer than ever in Zephaniah 3:17:
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
God reminds us that he wants us to do well, and is with us, no matter what has happened in the past in Haggai 2:4-5:
But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
We can see that we work with God, not just for God, and that his power is with us in Matthew 28:20:
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus prepares his disciples for life without him in John 15:4:
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Jesus gives us the key to not being lukewarm as a Christian in Revelation 3:20:
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Photo by Milad B. Fakurian on Unsplash
