One More Step

James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

I once spotted a bumper sticker that read, “If God feels far away, guess who moved.” I chuckled, then felt a little ouch of truth. It’s amusing how we often assume God has left us, when in reality He hasn’t changed His address. We’re the ones who wander off. All of us experience times when God feels distant – prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, or our hearts feel cold. In those seasons, it’s worth remembering that God isn’t the One doing the drifting.

The Bible puts it plainly: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” In other words, when we take a step toward God, He’s already poised to come running toward us. James, who wrote that verse, doesn’t coddle us. Right after that promise, he says we need to “cleanse [our] hands” and “purify [our] hearts” – a call to turn from the junk that pulls us away from God. It’s a reminder that closing the gap involves our repentance and humility. But notice the promise: the moment we move in God’s direction, He moves in ours. God isn’t playing hard to get. He longs for closeness with us, but He waits for us to want it too.

Jesus once told a story to show what this looks like. A wayward son decides to go back home, hoping to beg for mercy. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The father didn’t stand on the porch tapping his foot; he ran to meet his child. That’s God’s heart for you. Draw near, and He’s already on His way, ready to wrap you in a bear hug of grace.

So what does it mean to “draw near” in everyday life? It might be simpler than we think. It could mean:

·        Whispering a quick prayer as soon as you wake up, to say “Good morning, Lord.”

·        Reading a verse or two of Scripture on your lunch break and letting it sink in.

·        Taking a walk in the evening and talking to God about your day.

Little steps like these are ways of reaching out to God. They signal that you’re looking for Him, and the beautiful truth is that He’s already looking for you. None of these actions earns God’s love – they simply open our hearts to receive it. As one old saying goes, if God feels far away, it’s not because He left. He’s right there, waiting for you to turn around.

I don’t know how distant or close God feels to you right now. Maybe you’ve been distracted, or perhaps you’re in a dry spell. I’ll admit, I have my drifting days, too. But I do know this: whenever you take even one step back toward God, you’ll find Him rushing toward you with open arms. You might be surprised how quickly the distance disappears. Why not take that step today? Draw near in prayer or in reading His Word, even if it’s been a while. You’ll find that He’s not hiding at all – He’s been near the whole time, waiting to welcome you home.

Have a great week!

-Pastor Corey