When God Seems Far Away

In Jeremiah 29:13 I read, “When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed." (The Message)

No matter how far I am from God today, there is a pathway back to him. I get back to him from these three things.

First, realize I need to change. Nothing is going to change in my life until I get dissatisfied with the way I am. I need to get to the point where I say, “I don’t like this. I’m tired of being stressed out all the time. I’m tired of being frustrated all the time. I’m tired of being overworked all the time. I’m tired of feeling distant from God.”

Why does God let me get to this point? Because he loves me just the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. He does not want me me waste my life.

God says in Jeremiah 29:13, “When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed” (The Message).

Second, own up to my sin. Isaiah 59:2 says, “The trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you” (TLB).

There are times when I pray, but feel like God was a million miles away or like there was a wall between us.

Where does that distance come from? My sins have separated me from God. But if I feel far from God, guess who moved? I did! God has always been there. He loves me unconditionally, and he’s waiting for me to own up to my sin so I can have a right relationship with him again.

Lastly, give up control. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (NCV).

True transformation happens when my heart moves from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. Am I there yet?

That transformation doesn’t happen overnight. God is going to work on me my entire life. But to start the process, I have to make a decision to repent and, “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your [body] as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1 NIV).

God wants to be close to me. And he promises that when I seriously seek him, I will not be disappointed. Watch expectantly how God works in my life this coming year as I seek him with all my heart, mind, and soul.

In summary, when I get serious about finding God and wanting it more than anything else, God will make sure that I’m not disappointed. No matter how far I am from God today, there is a pathway back to him. I get back to him from these three things. First, realize I need to change. Nothing is going to change in my life until I get dissatisfied with the way I am. Why does God let me get to this point? Because he loves me just the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. He doesn't want me to waste my life. Second, own up to my sin. There are times when I pray, but feel like God was a million miles away or there's a wall in between us. My sins have separated me from God. But if I feel far from God, guess who moved? I did! God has always been there. He loves me unconditionally, and he’s waiting for me to own up to my sin so I can have a right relationship with him again. Lastly, give up control. True transformation happens when my heart moves from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. That transformation doesn’t happen overnight. God is going to work on me my entire life. But to start the process, I have to make a decision to repent. God wants to be close to me. He promises that when I seriously seek him, I will not be disappointed. 

God says, If I look for him wholeheartedly, I will find him. According to God's wise plan, his people were to have hope and a future; consequently, they could call upon him in confidence. Although the exiles were in a difficult place and time, they did not need to despair because they had God's presence, the privilege of prayer, and God's grace. God can be sought and found when I seek him wholeheartedly. Neither strange lands, sorrows, frustration, nor physical problems can break my communion with God. 

Godly Goals Give Me Hope to Endure

In Philippians 3:12 I read, “I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize." (CEV)

Yesterday I reviewed three reasons why I need to set goals. There are three more reasons why goal setting is so important that even Jesus set goals for himself.

Set goals because they give me hope to keep moving and endure. Job said, “What strength do I have left that I can go on hoping? What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?” (Job 6:11 GW). I need a goal to keep me going.

To motivate me, a goal doesn’t have to be big. For instance, if you needed surgery, your first goal in recovery could be to sit up in bed. Then I might work toward standing up and later walking down the hallway.

Those are small goals, but they’re all important. To get from where I am to where I want to be isn’t done in one big leap. It’s many small steps. A goal doesn’t have to be big to be important. Even small goals encourage me to carry on.

Set goals because they build my character. The greatest benefit to my life will not be my accomplishments but rather what happens inside me while I’m moving toward my goal.

God is more interested in my character than my accomplishments. While I’m working on my goal, God is working on me. He is building my character, because that’s what will last for eternity.

That’s why Paul said in Philippians 3:12, “I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize” (CEV). It takes energy, effort, and purpose to reach a goal, and the result is that I become more like Christ.

Set goals because good goals will be rewarded. Proverbs 11:27 says, “If your goals are good, you will be respected” (GNT). When I give my life to a good goal, it brings honor and builds a legacy on earth. But the real reward in setting good goals is going to come in eternity.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:25-26, “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step” (NLT). Paul was a purpose driven goal setter. God wants me to be one, as well, so that I can win the prize he has prepared for me in heaven.

In summary, I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. I set goals because: 1). They give me hope to keep moving and to endure. I need a goal to keep me going. To motivate me, a goal doesn’t have to be big. To get from where I am to where I want to be isn’t done in one big leap. It’s many small steps. A goal doesn’t have to be big to be important. Even small goals encourage me to carry on. 2). Set goals because they build my character. The greatest benefit to my life will not be my accomplishments but rather what happens inside me while I’m moving toward my goal. God is more interested in my character than my accomplishments. While I’m working on my goal, God is working on me. He is building my character. It takes energy, effort, and purpose to reach a goal, and the result is that I become more like Christ. 3). Set goals because good goals will be rewarded. When I give my life to a good goal, it brings honor and builds a legacy on earth. But the real reward in setting good goals is going to come in eternity. Paul was a purpose driven goal setter. God wants me to be one, as well, so that I can win the prize he has prepared for me in heaven.

Paul's goal was to know, be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him. This goal absorbed all of Paul's energy. This is a helpful example for me. I too should not let anything take my eyes off of my goal of knowing Christ. I must lay aside everything that is harmful and forsake anything that may distract me from being an effective Christ follower.  

Faith Helps Me To Focus My Goals

In Ephesians 3:20 I read, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" (The Message)

Setting goals is important because the Bible tells us that Jesus set goals. In fact, he often announced publicly his goal for the next phase of his ministry.

So why should I set goals? Today we’re going to talk about three reasons to set goals, and tomorrow we’ll talk about three more.

Set goals because it is my spiritual responsibility. If I don’t have goals for my life, I have already decided to let other people run my life. When I don’t decide in advance what’s important, I’m letting other people decide. I end up wasting my life, because I haven’t clarified how I want to grow as a follower of Christ.

The Bible says that, to be spiritually mature, I have to set goals and move toward them.

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize . . . I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. All of us who are mature should think in this same way” (Philippians 3:12, 14-15 CEV).

Set goals because they are statements of faith. If I’m a believer in Jesus Christ and I set a goal, I’m saying, “I believe that God wants me to accomplish this by this time. This is what I believe God is going to do in my life.”

Goals aren’t just a statement of faith. They stretch my faith. The bigger my goal, the more my faith will be stretched. And that pleases God.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (The Message).

Set goals because they focus my energy. Focus is the key to an effective life. If I spread my energy out and diffuse it over many things, I’ll reduce my impact. But a focused life is powerful and can change the world.

I don’t have time to do everything. But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect me to do everything! The key to being effective in life as a follower of Jesus is to do what matters most and forget everything else. Goals help me maintain that kind of focus.

1 Corinthians 9:26 says it this way: “I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air” (NCV).

In summary, God can do anything, far more than I could ever imagine, guess or request. Setting goals is important because the Bible tells us that Jesus set goals. Jesus often announced publicly his goal for the next phase of his ministry. Why should I set goals? I set goals because it is my spiritual responsibility. If I don’t have goals, I have already decided to let other people run my life. When I don’t decide in advance what’s important, I’m letting other people decide. In order to be spiritually mature, I have to set goals and move toward them. I set goals because they are statements of faith. When I set a goal, I’m saying, “I believe that God wants me to accomplish this by this time. This is what I believe God is going to do in my life.” Goals aren’t just a statement of faith. They stretch my faith. The bigger my goal, the more my faith will be stretched, and that pleases God. I set goals because they focus my energy. Focus is the key to an effective life. If I spread my energy out and diffuse it over many things, I’ll reduce my impact. But a focused life is powerful and can change the world. I don’t have time to do everything. God doesn’t expect me to. The key to being effective in life as a follower of Jesus is to do what matters most and forget everything else. Goals help me maintain that kind of focus.

Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in me. By this power he can do infinitely more than I could ever ask or imagine. Faith starts with stretching my imagination. It begins with a concept, vision or a mental picture. It always starts with an idea. As an example, God gave Abraham a picture. Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Abraham has something he could visualize. God will grow my faith by stretching my imagination, by giving me a dream. What I can dream and believe in faith, I can achieve. 

Getting the Power to Go After My Goals

In Proverbs 16:9 I read, “We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it." (The Message)

I get to plan the way I want to live, but only God gives me the power and energy to experience transformation. Why? Because God provides the three things I must have to reach my goals and change my life.

First, God’s Spirit to empower me. I need God’s help to make changes I can’t make on my own. Life-change is not based on willpower. It’s based on God’s power. It’s not based on trying. It’s based on trusting.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord All-Powerful” (NCV).

Second, God’s Word to guide me. The Bible is the owner’s manual for life. The more I read, study, memorize, and meditate on it, the more successful and fulfilled I’m going to be.

When Joshua was given the great dream of taking over the Promised Land—a goal that would take him the rest of his life—God spoke these words to him: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success” (Joshua 1:8 NASB).

Third, God’s people to support me. I will not be able to reach my goals on my own. It takes a team to fulfill a dream! Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped” (The Message).

A crowd can’t support you, but a small group can. The people in my small group know when I’m sick, when I’m having a tough time, and when I need a break. I can share my goals, successes, and failures. They will rejoice with me and encourage me to keep going. I’m going to need their support to help me make and pursue the right kind of goals.

Have I been trying to reach my goals and change my life on my own? It’s time to stop flying solo and learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, God’s Word, and God’s people.

In summary, I may plan the way I want to live, but only GOD enables me to live it. So I get to plan the way I want to live, but only God gives me the power and energy to experience transformation. God provides the three things I must have to reach my goals and change my life. First, God’s Spirit to empower me. I need God’s help to make changes I can’t make on my own. Life-change is not based on willpower. It’s based on God’s power. It’s not based on trying. It’s based on trusting. Second, God’s Word to guide me. The Bible is the owner’s manual for life. The more I read, study, memorize, and meditate on it, the more successful and fulfilled I’m going to be. Joshua was to meditate on it day and night, to be careful to do according to all that is written in it; and then it will make your way prosperous, and achieve success”. Third, I need God’s people to support me. I will not be able to reach my goals on my own. It takes a team, Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “By myself I’m unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. A crowd can’t support me, but a small group can. I need their support to help me make and pursue the right kind of goals. It’s time to stop flying solo and to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, God’s Word, and God’s people.

The final outcome of the plans I make is in God's hands. In doing God's will, there must be partnership between my efforts and God's control. He wants me to use my mind, seek the advice of others, and to plan. The results are up to him. Planning, then, helps me act God's way. As I live for him, ask for guidance as I plan, and then act on my plan as I trust him.