Any distance should make your heart go despondent

Thanksgiving was a blast in our home. Kay and I had our children all round the table. Even our eldest son who lives in another State, took time off work to be with us. He was such the usual trickster; he had given us the impression that his business trip would take him back to his home and we would be seeing him a week later. Unknown to us, he had decided to fly straight down to see us a week earlier. That Wednesday night, we had finished for the night and everyone was pretty tired. I was maybe dozing off when I heard a knock on the door. Kay went to enquire who it was. And then that very familiar voice came forth on the other side of the door. You must have witnessed all of our responses. Everyone ran to the door, there were hugs and tears – even my daughter – cried.

That is what the distance had done. I remember when he lived with us only some months back, we did not run to the door, and neither did we cry. But those precious months of not having him close, or seeing him as often had made our hearts sore for him and even despondent. How many nights I would stay up to pray and yearn for his well-being. I missed my son. And then I reflected on God, and how much He loves us. He loves us so. And so in a case where we pack up because we want something different, and go our way, His heart must be despondent also; and like the Father of the Prodigal, longing and yearning to see the son in the distance – ready to run and embrace.

I however want us to focus our minds on our own reaction/feelings when we are distant from the Lord. This does occur for many different reasons. Having distance between myself and God is inconceivable to me, because I so depend on His presence. I depend on knowing that He is close by; and that He will not leave me or forsake me. I truly depend on His presence. I cannot be without it. And if for any reason, maybe I get distracted by life, and become so busy and don’t spend time with Him, praying, reading my Bible, meditating on His promises – I do feel a difference, and my heart goes despondent. I know I have to get back. I can’t handle distance to God. I don’t know how to cope. And when I go back to doing those things that come natural because I love Him, then my joy is full again – not because He went away, but because I became distant to Him.

Our son coming home over Thanksgiving showed me how much I missed him being around. I cried when I saw him, it was great to hold Him. It is the same with God, it is great for Him to hold us, and yet for me – it is even greater to be held by Him.

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.

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