“Come near to God and He will come near to you.”
— James 4:8a
This verse is one of the most beautiful invitations in all of Scripture.
It doesn’t say, “Fix yourself and maybe God will tolerate you again.”
It says:
Come near to God… and He will come near to you.
No prerequisites.
No shame-based detours.
No performance required.
He still wants you close.
🛋️ But What If I Don’t Feel Close?
I get it. Some seasons just feel…dry.
You pray, but it feels one-sided.
You read, but it’s like the words fall flat.
You want to be close to God, but your emotions aren’t cooperating.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
God’s nearness isn’t based on our feelings.
It’s based on His faithfulness.
He doesn’t flinch when we fail. He doesn’t withdraw when we doubt.
We’re often the ones who slowly step back—out of guilt, distraction, or exhaustion.
But the moment we turn back toward Him, He doesn’t hesitate.
He comes near.
☁️ Drawing Near Can Look Like:
Saying, “Lord, I’m here,” even if you don’t have words
Turning on worship music in the car instead of scrolling
Reading one verse and sitting with it instead of rushing through a chapter
Choosing prayer over panic—even for 30 seconds
A whispered “Help me” while folding laundry
Going for a walk and just being quiet with Him
Confessing the real thing you’ve been avoiding
Sitting still and trusting He’s near—even if you don’t feel anything
It doesn’t have to be polished.
It just has to be real.
🌿 You Don’t Have to Beg
God isn’t playing hard to get.
He’s not holding His presence hostage until you “get it right.”
He wants you near. Not the version of you that has it all figured out—you. Right now. In whatever state you're in.
And when you take that first step back?
He meets you with grace. Every time.
🪞 Reflect:
Have I been waiting to “feel” close before making time to be with God?
What’s one small, intentional way I can draw near today?
What might change in me if I started believing He already wants to be near?
🙏 Prayer:
God, I’ve been waiting to feel something first.
But today, I just want to come near—no pretense, no pressure.
Thank You for being the kind of Father who draws close when I do.
Help me rest in Your presence, even when I can’t explain it.
I want to be near again.
Amen.