The Sorrow of Distance

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“Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food” (Ruth 1:6). 

We know that God does not abandon his people. People can abandon their spiritual communion with God, distancing themselves from the benefits of his presence. To draw near to the Lord, one must first realize they are far away. For Naomi, in her displacement, she heard the Lord had provided for others back home.

You and I have known the feeling of the absence of the Lord’s presence. Time apart from God’s Word increased, fellowship with other Christians became lacking, and your prayer life dwindled to empty words. Before you and I can enjoy God’s presence, we have to decide to move from our current place to a new one. We need to believe going somewhere new is better than where we currently are.

Take a moment and assess your spiritual state. In which areas do you feel the benefits of God’s presence are lacking? Is it prayer? Abiding in the Word? Fellowship with other Christians? Turning from sin and walking in the light?

As you ponder the areas where you feel distant from God, consider David’s words in Psalm 71:

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!

Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.

I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength is spent.

For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my life consult together

and say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is none to deliver him.”

O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.

With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.

Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.

You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.

I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
    who sought to do me hurt.”

Note David’s first line in the psalm: “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.”

Often, we resist returning to the Lord because of shame. We refrain from delighting in God because we believe God is disappointed with us, or will withhold a portion of himself until we “earn” it. Allow David’s words to comfort you. Returning to the Lord is not shameful, and the Lord does not exchange returning with disappointment. Before the Lord, your face will never be put to shame. In other words, the Lord is not disappointed in you.

Further, see the psalm’s progression. The more David notes the Lord’s presence and goodness, the more enjoyment he experiences. The more David remembers God’s promises, the more he can apply those promises to his present life. Though you see troubles today, God will revive you again—he will comfort you continually.

Consider this prayer as you meditate on your spiritual longing to be near God.

Father, be not far from me. Draw me near and keep me close. Near you, my soul becomes revived again. You are my hope. Bring your previous acts of faithfulness to mind. Your praise shall continually be on my lips. Before you, I am never put to shame. In Christ, my sin is covered, and my soul is delighted. Amen.

Seek to apply this prayer throughout your day and put it into your own words.

Prayer Points

Consider also praying for our community using “The Region” section of the prayer points found here.