Drawing Near

I feel closest to God when my life is a catastrophe. While I long for more peaceful times during a crisis, for an immediate end to the struggle, I yearn to experience God’s close, caring presence that seems nearest to me during a catastrophe. It’s like a spiritual Catch-22. It doesn’t seem I can have the nearness without the catastrophe.

James begs to differ.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. – James 4:8a

“This isn’t a God-thing. This is a human-thing,” James says. 

Miss Dorothy Levitt, first British race car driver, comfortably behind the wheel in the early 1900's.
Miss Dorothy Levitt, first woman British race car driver, comfortably behind the wheel in the early 1900’s.

When life is easy, I take the driver’s seat. I’m as happy is Dorothy Levitt (pictured above) behind the wheel. Before long, however, I get distracted. At best, I veer off the narrow road. At worst, I crash. Severed steering wheel in hand, I stagger back into His presence, dazed and confused. I draw near to Him more like an accident victim seeking a medic than a child drawn to her loving Father.

With James’ perspective, I can see that it isn’t the catastrophe that brings God’s Presence to me. The catastrophe brings me back into God’s Presence.

PONDER: When do you feel closest to God? What changes would allow you to experience that closeness all of the time?

PRAYER: Father, please forgive me for taking the driver’s seat in my life. I want to give You back Your rightful place behind the wheel. I want to snuggle up next to you on the front seat. Help me to learn to draw near to Your Presence more often in the peaceful times during my journey of life.