Be strong and courageous; don’t be afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.     Deuteronomy 31:6 HCSB

The Bible tells us not to fear in numerous passages. I’ve heard 365 passages tell us not to worry, one for each day of the year, but I’ve never taken the time to count them myself. If I’m being honest, though, I have to say there are times when I become fearful. There are times when the enemy seems to be looming before me and I feel fear.

Now the word feel is a problem because although we have feelings, we shouldn’t act on our feelings. Our feelings tend to play along with our flesh and before you know it you are following your heart. We are told in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can trust it? So please, never follow your heart. It will lead you astray. Never go according to a feeling. We should be led by God’s word.

When God seems to not be there or seems to be far away, we should consider some things. The first thing we need to consider is, have we walked away from Him? Has our sin built a barrier between us and our Savior? Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Indeed, the LORD’s hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear. But your iniquities have built a barrier between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide his face from you so that He does not listen.”

Jesus said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we will obey His commands. God is there for us, but when we turn away from him and choose to deliberately sin Hebrews 10:26 tells us there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

I will admit there have been times when I have wondered where God was. I wondered why he left me exposed to my enemy’s attack. I wondered why He wasn’t protecting me. In all of these times, however, He was right there. He was working things out for my good (Romans 8:28). He was protecting me. I learned that He was never any farther than a prayer away.

We will go through times when it seems as though our Lord is far from us. We may go through times when it seems as though He is not protecting us. During these times, turn to Him. Cry out to Him. If you have deliberate, unrepentant sin in your life, confess that sin to Him. Repent of that sin and ask Him to strengthen you against temptation.

God is always there, but He will never force you to come to Him. That has to be your decision. I spent a time in my life when I did things my way. It took me a while to learn it wasn’t working so well. Doing things His way means that He is right there with me. He’s standing beside me to guide me through the flames and the flood. He upholds me with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Psalm 91:1 tells us if we choose to live in the shelter God provides, we will abide in the safety of his shadow. We will be well protected. He will take good care of us. Matthew 6:33 tells us if we will focus on Him and strive to be in a right relationship with Him, He will provide all we will ever need.

The Israelites were often described as stiff-necked or stubborn, rebellious people. But those who trusted in the Lord were protected through all of God’s judgments on their disobedience. Even in captivity, He caused those faithful to Him to thrive.

God wants you to thrive also. He is always right there. If you have walked away from Him, run back into His outstretched arms. He is waiting there for you.

Have a great day!