HE'S ALWAYS THERE
Jeremiah 29:13-14
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity...
Kevin missed opening day of deer season because of the birth of his first grandchild and he was anxious as he only had 3 days to hunt. I was sitting next to him overlooking a section of a long valley that led down to a big creek that drained into the Missouri River in South Central South Dakota.
An hour into the hunt a small 8 point buck came out of the brush below our lookout. Kevin wanted to take a shot, but I convinced him to wait for a older buck. We didn't have to wait long. A loud crash in the bottom of the valley got our attention and soon a doe came running out with a huge 9 point buck on her tail.
The buck ran up the valley and stopped broadside at 200 yards, an easy shot. Kevin's first two shots missed and the buck ran out another 100 yards and again turned broadside and looked back at us. Two more misses. The doe crossed between us and the buck and he followed closer. After walking behind a hill, the buck walked out at 150 yards and Kevin's last two rounds were used, without touching the buck.
Kevin sat with his head down, totally disappointed in himself. We sat for a few minutes, Kevin still staring at the ground, I finally broke the silence and told him that it was going to be OK and those missed shots would make no difference in his life. I let him know we were going to do all we could to get him a big buck before he had to go home. I wanted him to know that I would be alongside him no matter what. He ended up taking a 13 point buck, bigger than then one he missed.
During the darkest moments of our lives there are times when God feels so far away. Times of no hope in our small minds. Think about the times when you struggled the most emotionally in your life. Did it feel like God wasn't close... Even King David had these feelings at times of trouble. Yet, David knew that no matter where he went, God was with him.
Psalm 39:7
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Not many of us have struggled as David did with sorrow (much of it self inflicted). He went through terrible times of discouragement. But he always came back to God, because he knew that no matter where he was God was right there alongside him.
No matter what you are facing today, or will face tomorrow, you can rest assured that God is with you. He is right there. It doesn't matter how far we run from Him or feel separated, the verses above assure us of that, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.". These are promises to His children, those that have sought Him out and accepted His close relationship.
Seek Him "with all your heart."
Just prior to verses 13 and 14 in the chapter is a terrific reminder of God not only being close, but also, having plans for our benefit.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
We have an awesome God that is ALWAYS there.
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