You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
Ever feel far from God? We’ve all been there at some time or another. Like all of our feelings, they come and go. We can’t really rely upon our feelings as a way of perceiving reality (Jeremiah 17:9), but our feelings can sometimes alert us to danger. Sometimes we become more sensitive to our separation from God. We are more aware of our sinfulness, and more aware of God’s holiness. We sense the shallowness of our relationship with God and we hunger for a deeper, closer relationship. This hunger is very, very good, as God can use this hunger to draw us closer to Himself.
So what do we do when we feel God is far away from us? The prophet Jeremiah instructs us to seek God with our whole heart. The work here is done mostly in our hearts. Our affections and desires must be focused upon knowing and following God. We must have a heart that wants to leave lesser loves behind and chooses to pursue God.
This passage is also a promise. For those of us who have felt separated from God and out of relationship with God, there is hope. Turn your heart to God. Surrender your heart to God. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus. This verse tells us that when a person gives God their whole heart, God makes Himself available to that individual. This verse teaches that God will be found by the person that surrenders their heart to Him. Isn’t it time you surrendered your heart to God? What is holding you back?
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to give my whole heart to you. Help me to love other things less and You more. Show me how to seek You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
