Nigh unto all that call
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”Psalm 145:18
Reflection
There are days when God seems far away. The prayer goes out without an answer, the heart is dry, the Bible seems like any book. On those days, Psalm 145 brings a simple and firm statement: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." Notice that the word "all" appears twice. The promise is not only for pastors, missionaries or people of exemplary life. It is for anyone who calls.
The condition is short: call. Not call well, with beautiful words or after getting organized inside. Simply call. And the text adds a precious detail: "in truth". God does not look for eloquence, He looks for truth. The honest prayer, which says "Lord, I am confused", "I am angry", "I do not know what to do", is worth more than a perfect and empty prayer. The psalms themselves are full of raw cries, and they stayed in the Bible precisely for that reason.
Note also that the verse speaks of a fact, not a feeling: the Lord "is nigh". God's nearness does not depend on our feeling it. The sun remains in the sky even when clouds hide it. Jesus was called Emmanuel, "God with us", and promised to be with us always. When the heart says God is far, the Word says the opposite, and faith chooses to believe what God has said, even before the feeling catches up.
Today, try it. Tell God, in one honest sentence, how you really are. You do not need to arrange the words. Then, throughout the day, use short prayers: "Lord, I am here", "I need You", "Thank You". You need no intermediaries and no appointed hour: whoever calls is heard. If you feel distant from God, the way back is the length of one sentence. He is nigh unto all who call upon Him, and that includes you.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are near to all who call on You. I call on You today without masks, just as I am. When I feel distant, remind me that Your nearness does not depend on my feelings. Teach me to pray in truth and to trust that You hear me. Amen.
Put it into practice
Make a one-sentence honest prayer today, telling God how you really are. Throughout the day, repeat short prayers such as "Lord, I am here" whenever you remember.
To reflect on
What keeps you from calling on God just as you are, without arranging the words first?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).