Nearer To My God

The lyrics of a majestic 19th century hymn, Nearer My God, To Thee by Sarah Flower Adams so aptly describes the life of Jacob and some of us today.

Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Jacob while fleeing from his older brother whom he deceived out of the birthright found himself in a place he called Bethel (Genesis 28:19). Here in this place he had a dream of angels ascending and descending on a ladder leading heavenward. Here God reminded Jacob of the promise given to his forefathers of possessing the land and that his descendants will be many like the dust of the earth.

Are you in such a place of fear or intimidation because of the Enemy's threats? Are you running from the shadows of the past and uncertain of a future? Do you find yourself so weary like Jacob who didn't mind the rock for a pillow.

But when he awoke something had changed - it was not the geography or even his condition - rather he found himself nearer to God than he'd first believed. The presence of God transforms us!

It seems like the further you run God has a way of meeting you right at the place where's no more strength to take another step. The only step is to draw near to God. So, we are reminded of the promise to draw near to God and He will come closer to us (James 4:8).

When you find yourself in hard and difficult place the only thing you can do is by faith declare you'll move toward Him. And that is what repentance is all about - the Greek word is metanoi - a change of heart. Drawing near to God is a direction with a singular purpose of giving God the opportunity to change us from the inside out.

And if we seem dead inside with no feeling or desire to draw close to Him - we have the example of Christ calling out a dead Lazarus who heard his name from within the grave.

As we mature in Christ, lesser is the griefs, sorrows and pains of life that compel us toward Him but just simply for the love of Him.