Lord, Draw Near to Me.

I know it's not just me, but do you ever go through seasons when God feels distant?

Not because He's moved, theologically, I know He hasn't. But experientially, emotionally, it feels like there's space between us.

I pray, and it feels like words bouncing off the ceiling. I worship, and it feels mechanical. I long for His presence, and I just… don't sense it.

And in those moments, what I need most is for Him to draw near. To close the gap. To make His presence tangible in a way I can actually feel, not just believe in.

David understood this. In Psalm 145, he wrote, "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

Near. Not distant. Not watching from afar. Near, close enough to touch, to sense, to experience.

God's nearness isn't something I conjure or manufacture. I can't force it through the right worship song or the perfect prayer. But I can position myself for it. I can quiet the noise. I can create space. I can ask Him to draw near, and trust that He will.

There's another verse I love in James 4:8 where he writes: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." It's a promise. When I move toward Him, He moves toward me. When I ask Him to come close, He does.

But what about when I ask Him to draw near, and I still don't feel Him close? I quiet myself. I create space. I position my heart. And… nothing.

The sense of distance remains. Does that mean He didn't keep His promise?

No. It means His nearness isn't always something I feel. Sometimes faith means trusting He's near even when I can't sense it. Believing the promise when my emotions contradict it. Holding onto truth when experience doesn't confirm it.

God's nearness is a reality, not just a feeling. He is near to all who call on Him, whether I feel it or not. And sometimes, the deepest act of faith is continuing to call on Him in the silence, trusting He's closer than He feels.