Who Needs To Know You’re Close

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

“MOOOOOMMMMMAAAAA!!!”

His voice seemed far away as I sat up and tried to clear my head. I climbed out of bed, felt my way across my room in the dark, and headed toward his bedroom. “I’m coming!” I shouted as I navigated through the living room and kitchen. “What is it? Are you okay?” I asked before I even got to my eight-year-old.

“I need water.”

I put my wrist across his forehead. He needed more than water. He was burning up. I gave him a drink and some fever reducer, adjusted his blankets, and sat at the end of his bed until he fell back asleep. But even then, I didn’t go back to bed. I kept watch over him throughout the night. I stayed close.

I’ve run through the house in the middle of the night for all three of my children. I’ve run when they call out because they’re having a bad dream. I’ve run when they are sick and need someone to help them. I’ve run just because they’re awake and alone and the world feels strange when all the lights are off. I’ve run to the school to pick them up when they’re ill. I’ve run to their friends’ houses when they just want to come home. When our children call for us, we go because we are momma and that’s what momma does.

My friend, do you love your children more than God loves you? It’s not a trick question. Consider it as if you do not know the answer for just a moment. In your humanity, could you ever love your children more than the eternal, perfect God loves you? Our overflowing love for our kids cannot compare to the love of God for us. As much as you love your children, God’s love for you is greater still!

He is a good Father. His love for you is forever. You don’t have to call just right, think just right, act just right, pray just right, or be just right for Him to decide that you’re worth His presence. Jesus died on the cross just so He could be with you. That was the purpose of His life, death, and resurrection. God’s Son came down from heaven so He could remain close to me and you forever: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). That eternal life is with Him—not just in the place where He lives but in His forever presence.

You have access to the presence of God right now. You have access to His love right now. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

He is close to you in this moment. He is close to you through every joy, sadness, and suffering. His presence walks you through it all. You can call on Him, and remember: He knows exactly what you need in this moment.

Tonight we pray for the momma who needs to know that You are close. Lord, she needs to know that You are right here with her in the middle of every heartache, sadness, challenge, and discouragement. Lord, we ask that she would feel Your presence with her right now and know that she is not alone. We ask for sweet, restorative rest. We thank you in advance for every answer, and we believe for every promise.

We pray in Jesus’s name, amen.

Abba, Father, make Your presence known to me now as I call out to You about . . .