Saturday, September 21, 2024

 

Draw Near to the Lord Who is with You  


Over the past month I have unexpectedly crossed paths with a couple of individuals I had not seen in many years. Both of them were moms whose children went to school with our kids. So during these brief encounters, we quickly caught up with the latest news on where our children are, what they are doing, and how many grandchildren we have. It was nice to reconnect with these people with whom we share a special bond. I suppose it goes back to all the significant moments we experienced together through school activities, sporting events, band concerts, and scout meetings. It was a combination of the amount of time we spent together in those days and the support we found in each other as we traversed through those busy, turbulent school years as parents.

 Shared experiences, especially if those events are significant or difficult, tend to create special connections with people. Hopefully, we within the church find such relationships with our fellow followers of Jesus. We should be there to encourage, support, and pray for one another as we go through all the learning experiences in the school of life. It is those who stand with us and by us at the times of greatest joy and the moments of deepest sorrow who tend to mean the most to us. A bond is formed that can stay with us forever.

However, the greatest connection we should experience is with the Lord Himself. He is always there with us, even when no one else can be. He can comfort us in ways no human being can. He is more faithful than even our best of friends. And He loves us and cares about us more than our dearest family member.

Nevertheless, this connection doesn’t just automatically happen simply because the Lord is present. We have to cultivate that closeness. It isn’t just about being together as we go through the ups and downs of life, but about talking to Him, leaning on Him, listening to His guidance, and watching how He works all things out for our good and to accomplish His purposes. It isn’t only that we share the same experience, but that we fellowship together as we do so. We need to read God’s Word, seek to understand His will, and hold onto His promises. We need to pray, sharing our concerns with the Lord, receiving His wisdom, and thanking Him for what He does.

Jesus compared His relationship with us to that of a shepherd with his sheep (John 10). When we look at what He says about it, as well as remember the familiar 23rd Psalm, we see that it goes further than simply the shepherd being there. He has built a relationship with his sheep through leading them to good pastures, taking care of their needs, and protecting them from harm. He knows his sheep by name and they recognize the familiar voice of their shepherd. They have developed a special bond not only through their shared experiences but by how they interacted in those times.

  It is wonderful that the Lord promises to be with us, to never leave us nor forsake us. But let’s do more than sense His presence. Look to Him for the strength and comfort you need to endure those times. Draw close to Him and experience the fulfillment of His promise that He will draw close to you. Submit to the guidance of your Shepherd. Trust Him to take care of you. Be faithful to follow Him, even if you can’t see where He is leading. If you go through life together in such a relationship, it will be difficult for anything to come between you and your Lord or to diminish your devotion to Him.

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