A bit of honesty? Sometimes I really struggle with the literal physical distance of God. And in my mind that distance (if I’m not very careful) can sometimes equal in my mind a sort of relational distance as well. It’s not that my faith is made to waver by that, but that I can so easily (and without even realizing it) start to view God as emotionally distant as well as physically.
Nothing could be more wrong. God is not aloof or ambivalent and he never has been. His physical distance from us is not a reflection of his emotional distance from us. Those two attributes are simply not even in the same category for him. God is deeply invested in having a relationship with you and with that comes another amazing attribute of his character: Emotion
God is an emotional God, and not in the sense that we tend to view emotion. The word “emotional” with him has none of the negative connotations we use to describe one another. When I say God is emotional, I’m not saying that he’s prone to outbursts or cries every time at the slightest criticism. In him, emotion is perfected and always proportionate. There is no instance of God reacting with emotion that is not 100% justified.
So when God is emotional we see that emotion as it was meant to be. His anger is terrible and frightening because he has good cause to be that angry. His sorrow and mourning for all those astray is heartbreaking because what could be worse than creation’s separation from its creator? His joy and happiness is infectious because he is happy about that which is made of pure joy itself.
God’s emotions extend to you. He is not passive about your life or stony faced at the sight of you. He is deeply and emotionally invested in you. Your hurts and griefs matter to him.
Think of the people you love most and then think about a time when they were hurting. You couldn’t help feeling for them because you care so deeply for them. And you were doing that out of your own imperfect, flawed human nature. So how much more does God feel deeply for us out of his perfect, loving goodness?
God hurts for your hurts. He is angered by how you are mistreated. He mourns the sadness that weighs you down. He is not watching the hard parts of your life and saying “Huh. Oh well.” before moving on to better things. He is actively engaged and pulling for you. Your hurts at the hands of the world’s brokenness hurt him alongside you. And when you experience those moments of absolute, pure, complete joy? No one is rejoicing more than your creator.
You matter to God. You. He is so deeply invested in you and with such great, perfect feeling. Though he may be physically far from you, his investment in you is so close it’s indivisible, and that is a very comforting thought.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
Let’s find some joy,
A
Avalon Robinson Author 