Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.
In isolation, God sees us, and there we begin to know Him More Deeply
I recently left my town to travel about 300 miles north to pick up my eldest son from my in-laws’ house. He was there for an extended visit—about a month—and my mom and I journeyed to pick him up and bring him home. Suffice to say, the trip did me well.
I needed a change of pace.
A change of scenery.
A bit of humor (lots of laughs bubble up during a 6-hour drive)
And I needed to be unseen.
The Bible says that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. So, when we laugh, it’s good. The heart needs it. The heart can be healed with laughter.
The break from the laptop was a respite for me—albeit for just over a 48-hour turn. Not much, I know, but enough for me to notice a difference in my mood.
Facetime allowed me to see what I normally pass up. When I’m unplugged from the clamorous world spinning in the ether, I can see who God is more deeply. I’m not pursuing inquiry or catching up on email—I’m not producing and performing, which is the expectation out there.
I learned a long time ago that keeping myself busy is not synonymous with living for God. Surrendering our entire life to God is—I’ve learned—requires that we become less visible to an open and fierce world.
In isolation, God sees us, and there we begin to know Him more deeply. “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8)
Why then do we work so hard to impress God? Why do we feel compelled to outperform our contemporaries to get God’s attention?
He sees us when we’re homeschooling when we’re discipling our children when we tend to domestic duties when we host friends. These things, these unassuming, seemingly insignificant events are not outside of God’s knowledge. This frontier of domesticity, of being out of the limelight of social media, is fertile ground for our setting up our affections above.
“Set your affections on things above, not in things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
I’m realizing how crucial it is now to surrender to God more than ever. There’s so much mixed chatter abounding in conversation that I say, I surrender God, to you. I have no words to share, no rebuttals, no challenges to quip, no questions to ask. Hide me in all of it. Keep me grounded outside of the noise. Keep me hidden away.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
that daily quietness… so important isn’t it?
It is indeed. It is so necessary. Thanks, Annette.
There is a Japanese saying that those who vanish like the dew will surely be quite happy…because they have gone directly to God’s heart.
Great post, Erendira. You have a gift.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2018/01/your-dying-spouse-441-last-lesson-fmf.html
I like that Japanese saying. It encapsulates the thought clearly. Thank you, Andrew, for reflecting on this.
Wow! Very powerful. You have given me a new way to think about surrendering to God. Thanks so much for sharing. FMF #9
Thank you for stopping by, Karen.
This post is a hard one for me today as tomorrow I will become more visible to many as it’s release day for a book that shares the story of my late daughter. I’m actually so scared of being so open and visibale. But maybe this post is a reminder that whilst the world may know me more our father has always known me.
Yes, Sara, the Lord knows you through and through. I am glad the book tour will show you just where you are in His hands. He is capable of showing us His bounty and glory through those anxious moments we may come across in our lives. Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts! Best wishes on your tour.
Oh this is so good and just what I needed to hear!
Great thanks, Angela.
I found this to be calming to my soul as you remind me to spend time in His presence.
O, Patricia, thank you for your response. I am so glad this post was encouraging to you. And you encourage me!
What a beautiful thought about being unseen by the world! Thank you.
http://www.tracimichele.com/2018/01/surrender-five-minute-friday/
Thank you, Traci, for your response! I appreciate your sweet sentiment.
Drawing nigh to God is one of the sweetest blessings of surrender! Enjoyed your post –
Thank you, Jennifer, for surrendering as you draw nigh.
I recently read Unseen, too, so when I saw this in your newsletter, I had to stop by! Love this line: “I learned a long time ago that keeping myself busy is not synonymous with living for God.” I find road trips so refreshing, probably for the same reason as you–hustling falls to the side of the road, and unseen moments are prime time to draw closer to God.
Yes, Emily, you are right about that. I can’t tell you how blessed I was by my road trip. It drew my family closer in more ways than I imagined and closed a few gaps that were in the fray. Thank you for stopping by to respond. So glad to see you here!