Drawing Near

In what area of your life do you most need to feel God's presence?

Psalm 34:180

The Lord is near the brokenhearted.

I struggled with disordered eating for over a decade. It peaked when I began preparing my food as a young adult. Without the abuse and control from my upbringing or the consistency of the collegiate cafeteria, I was paralyzed. I spent most evenings in front of an open fridge, weeping, in a tug of war between control, safety, and comfort.

My therapist would ask me to invite Jesus near when I didn’t know how to feed myself.

Have you ever sat with someone in their grief? Not the fussy “let me do the dishes” or the coos of comfort like “we’ve been praying for you.” Rather, a steady presence in the ache of silence and loss.

That's what I felt when I invited Jesus into my darkest place. I felt Jesus draw near to my broken heart.

What a gift it is to have a God who doesn’t rush to solve or fuss but simply to be near.

Perhaps you are brokenhearted and don’t need another casserole. May today be a gentle reminder that Jesus is near you.

In what area of your life do you most need to feel God's presence? How might you invite Jesus into a space where you feel stuck or overwhelmed?

—Jeanette Capel