After an afternoon of swimming, my six-year-old niece came to visit. She spotted a new book on the table and promptly asked to read. Sitting on my lap, she and I read about butterflies. As I held her close, dampness from her wet hair seeped into my shirt until I suddenly realized I, too, was wet.

Later, after my niece went home and I was drying out, I thought about the encounter. I had only gotten wet because I held her closely. If I had held her at a distance, I would have been much drier, but I would have missed the sweetness of her nearness.

God operates that way, too. When we draw near to God, He rubs off on us, much like my niece “rubbed off” on me. This makes us a little more like Him. 

Psalm 1:1 tells us, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers … ”

Likely, the reverse is also true. Blessed is the one who walks in step with the Spirit? Who stands in the way that leads to life? Who sits in the company of God?

Yes! Those who draw near to God are blessed.

James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” The Word also says, “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’” (Jeremiah 33:3).

In Hebrews 4:16, the writer reminds us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

All of these passages extend an invitation. To seek nearness to God. Proximity. “Come near.” “Call to me and I will answer.” “Approach … with confidence.” And we reap blessing when we draw near: in the James text, God comes close to us; the Jeremiah passage offers us the blessing of divine conversation and revelation; in Hebrews, we receive mercy and find grace. From a huge, supernatural God, these are gifts beyond price.

That proximity to God influences every aspect of our lives. Because drawing near to God changes things. Drawing near to God changes us! When we live close to Him, He imprints on our hearts. And we treat others differently. We handle problems with more grace. We close our mouths when we’d like to spew angry words.

Is this proximity always comfortable? Probably not. My wet clothes felt distinctly uncomfortable. But the payoff of a little-girl snuggle mattered more. Drawing near to God may inspire uncomfortable moments too, moments of stretching or struggle, as we try to overcome what separates us from God. But, the reward of intimacy with the Father is worth that.

How can you draw nearer to God this week?

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