There are moments in life when our hearts become weary, even while everything on the outside seems to be going well. We long for peace, reassurance, and someone who truly understands.
Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as a loving Father who draws near to comfort, protect, and strengthen His children. The question has never been whether He is willing. The question has always been whether we will come close enough to receive what He longs to give.
š§ Prefer to Listen?
We All Need Comfort
Maybe youāre feeling the need to be comforted right now?
Nature gives us some beautiful pictures of safety and comfort. Let me show you one.
My neighbor was headed to his garden when her clucks stopped his wide stride. Without meaning to do it, he had frightened a turkey hen with chicks that were feeding on the hillside.
My friend froze in place.
He watched the chicks scurry beneath their mama’s wings. They knew her cluck was a warning, and they obeyed immediately.
He stood completely still until she felt safe enough to move back to the yummy seeds dangling from the grass stems still wet with dew. Then the baby chicks wobbled off in a dozen directions to feed.
Wow! What a precious sight.
Her protectiveness… her love… her wisdom warmed his heart.
Jesus Longs to Gather Us Close
A mama fowl protecting her brood is a common sight in a rural setting. No doubt it was a scene Jesus was referring to in Luke 13:34. We see the same heart in Jesusācomforting, protecting, loving, and guidingālonging for His people to respond to His voice.
Need His Peace?
Jesus pointed out an important reason why some people miss His loving comfort.
āO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldnāt let me.ā Luke 13:34 NIV
Why didnāt they have His comfort?
They wouldnāt let Him.
And it cost them ‘BIG TIME!’
Look with me at the next verse.
35 āBehold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, āBLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!āā Luke 13:35 NIV
This story grieves my heart.
They missed Him! They missed Jesus.
Jesus Is Still Knocking
Revelation 3 shows us another picture of the longing, loving heart of God.
āHere I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.ā Revelation 3:20 NIV
Frequently this illustration is used for lost people. While that is certainly an accurate application, it was actually written to the church.
I love the wording in the NIV: Here I am!
Oh, how He longs to spend time with us…
Loving us.
Receiving our love.
Talking with us.
Listening to us.
Why We Miss His Comfort
How do we, His children, respond?
We’re too busy. Too occupied. Too lazy. Too angry because He didn’t do what we thought He should, when we thought He should. Too satisfied. Too successful. Too enamored with what makes us feel good. Too ashamed. Too afraid He will want to talk about the things we’ve kept hidden away.
So we ignore His knock.
And we miss His grace. His peace. His love. His joy.
But life goes on.
Like hamsters on a wheel, we whirl and spin.
We may look fine on the outside, but appearances can hide an empty heart. Healthy bank accounts cannot fill bankrupt souls. Plates piled high with delicious food cannot nourish a starving spirit.
There Is No Drive-Through for God’s Presence
We are more than bodies that need care.
We are more than minds and emotions that need training. Our spirits need the nourishment that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
That means feeding our spirits with Scripture and prayer.
Thereās no drive through for a quick pickup; it means coming into His Presence, receiving His love and His power, to make your spirit strong and vibrant.
That means lingering like you would in a hot shower after a hard day.
While it may not be as popular as a shower or a slow walk on the beach, His Presence soothes and brings peace as you linger in quiet, soulful worship.
Make His Presence Your Priority
I realize that lingering in His Presence means making Him our priority.
We schedule priorities. We make room for priorities. We follow through with priorities.
For me, that means getting up early to pray. For you, it may mean going to your prayer place after the children are in bed, turning off the television an hour earlier, or reading your Bible over breakfast or lunch.
ā…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.ā Luke 13:34b
Coming close, receiving His comfort is a choice that wraps you in His love and peace.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you that You are our strength and song. I need Your comfort and peace. I come close for more of You. I need You. Help me to make Your Presence a priority. Help me to make You a greater priority in my life today.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
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ā¢ Learning to Pray
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If today’s visit to Pat’s Place encouraged your heart, I’d love to invite you to continue the journey with a resource God has allowed me to create. Click on the book cover below to learn more.
Thank you for spending time in God’s Word with me today.
My prayer is that these studies will do more than increase our knowledge. May they help us know the Father’s love more deeply, experience the fellowship of Precious Holy Spirit more fully, and walk more closely with the Lord Jesus Christ each day.
Until next time…
Keep walking with Jesusāone step at a time.
