Running to God

God wants us to run into His arms in times of trouble and heartache. Talking to Him is no different. So why is it so hard to recognize that He is listening? Maybe it’s because His voice seems small. Maybe it’s because the response doesn’t come right away. Or maybe it’s because we’re not patient enough to wait for one.

Jesus and His disciples once floated across a lake, and Jesus fell asleep. A storm came, and the disciples felt in danger. In Luke 8, they awoke Jesus, asking Him for help. Jesus said, “Where is your faith?” He rebuked the storm, and it ceased. Then the disciples asked, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.” They ran to Jesus for help—not fully knowing what would happen, but trusting Him enough to turn to Him.

I vividly remember times when I spoke to God and felt as if I were talking to a wall. Often, it felt like I was just staring at the ceiling. Faith can begin to decline if that feeling persists, because of its fragility and our human weakness. But that feeling is consistently wrong. Time and time again, He proves that He is always listening. He is always waiting for you to run into His arms and bring your questions to Him.

Let us both do this—next time we have a problem at hand, a burden on our shoulders, or a thought on our minds, let’s bring it to God and lay it down at His feet.

I personally like this analogy: God is like the ocean—patient, powerful, and present. The ocean is always waiting. The ocean will not crumble. You may run into a wall, but if you run into the ocean, it will embrace you.

Jeremiah 33:3 says, “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Not a ‘maybe’, not a ‘later’, not a ‘talk to me tomorrow.’ God said He will answer.