There come times in the life of every man when God seems far away. Between us and God there seems to be a chasm so wide that we are powerless to bridge it. We would like to believe that God is in his heaven and all is well with his creation. But try as we may there is a barrier between us and God which we are unable to leap over, to burrow under, or to pass by on the other side. We seem to be lost in a dark forest. Mysterious figures lurk behind every tree, and we know not which way to go. There is a way, we think, but where is it?

Job cried, "Oh, that I knew. . . ." The Psalmist also was acquainted with this prayer: "How long wilt thou forget me, 0 Lord? Forever?" This is an experience shared by all men at some time. And the Psalmist experienced what some men experience frequently: "God is nigh unto all them that call upon his name." This is fact! The dark, shadowy forest is also fact. God is near to those --- this is both fact and experience!

Jesus came into the world in order to give the answer to job's cry. He came to take the burdens of men. He came to make known the love of a heavenly Father who suffers when we go astray. He came to show men the way to the Father, and that way had and has a cross at the center of it. He came that we might have life, abundant, full, and free. What was and is His reception? Men were not anxious to welcome him. The people of his home town ridiculed him. Religious leaders called him a sinner, a man in league with the devil. People scoffed at him. He was finally murdered by his own people. Such experiences make God seem far away. Jesus overcame! But how?

Our Lord faced difficult situations squarely and realized his inadequacy. He knew the words of the Psalmist, "God is nigh. . . ." He not only knew these words; he wagered his life on them. He carried a cross because the assurance of the nearness of God burned in his spirit. Jesus did not evade the problems of life. He did, however, retire to a lonely place that he might call upon God. Again and again we read that Jesus retired to a mountain or a desert place to pray. Cannot we do the same today? That desert place can be anywhere; for God is near to them. . . . Some have been keenly aware of the presence of God while kicking a punch press, others while pounding a typewriter, others while washing dishes, and still others while plowing corn. It is not the place that matters; it is the soul's sincere desire to commune with the Father.

In calling upon God we do not have to use "religious words." We need only speak to God in the words of everyday conversation. Those words will say what you want to say. And God is near....

Two men were praying in a temple one day. One, a religious man, prayed a long but ineffective prayer-ineffective because he thought God was at his beck and call, for he knew himself to be good. The other man made no pretense of being religious. He simply smote his breast and said, "0 God, be merciful to me a sinner." There was no sham, no make-believe, no hypocrisy. In simple phrase he uttered his soul's most sincere desire: "Be merciful to me a sinner. He told God what was gnawing at his heart. And he went home with a good feeling deep down, How simple! Yet how difficult! How unwilling we are to face ourselves for what we are. But do that we must. Then and only then will God seem near. Confession of sin is like taking a good shower bath; it makes you tingle all over with joy. Be honest with yourself when you pray. Do not blame others. You pull no wool over God's eyes; you can, if you want to, fool yourself. Frank facing of self is a "must": it is a prior step to the assurance that God is nigh.

Jesus prayed when the events of life were crushing him. He prayed when his own strength was inadequate. He prayed when God seemed far away. He prayed continually, for he could not complete his difficult task, except God be near him. That last night in the garden while praying he felt his aloneness as never before. He saw the long steps up Calvary, steps he would labor up alone, deserted by most of his friends. He recoiled from the ordeal. Sweat mingled with blood poured from his brow. Then he prayed, "Not my will but thine be done." Once more he was assured of the nearness of God. He did not seek to answer his own prayer.

So we must pray, if our prayers are to mean anything. Frequently God seems far away because we are attempting to dictate to him the answers instead of submitting self to his will. God replies "Yes" and "No." And a "No" is often good for us!

When, therefore, life is weighing heavily upon you and God seems far away and you cry out with Job, "Oh, that I knew where I might find him," remember the words of the psalm, 'God is nigh unto all them that call upon his name." Whether you pray, "0 Lord be merciful to me a sinner," or "Now I lay me down to sleep, or you repeat the prayer of Newman, "0 Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done; then of Thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at last; through Jesus Christ our Lord"--by all means pray!

"God is nigh unto all them that call upon his name."

This article appeared in the January 4, 1947 publication of "THE GOSPEL TRUMPET" A publication of the Gospel Trumpet Company Anderson, Indiana.