{"id":1445,"date":"2011-02-20T01:26:23","date_gmt":"2011-02-20T01:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/02\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-god-is-not-watching-us-from-a-distance.html"},"modified":"2011-02-20T01:26:23","modified_gmt":"2011-02-20T01:26:23","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-god-is-not-watching-us-from-a-distance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/02\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-god-is-not-watching-us-from-a-distance.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: God is Not Watching Us From a Distance"},"content":{"rendered":"

God is Not Watching Us From a Distance<\/h2>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Psalm 34:1-22<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nThe LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
\n     he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Psalm 34:18<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"earth-from-space-pacific-5.jpg\"<\/form>\n

Two decades ago, the song “From a Distance” streaked to the top of the
\ncharts. Bette Midler’s moving version of this song not only sold in the
\nmillions, but also won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1991. The lyrics
\ncelebrated a peaceful world as seen “from a distance.” “From a distance
\nwe all have enough, and no one is in need. And there are no guns, no
\nbombs, and no disease, no hungry mouths to feed.” The chorus introduced
\nGod into this idyllic existence: God is watching us. God is watching us.
\n“God is watching us from a distance.”<\/p>\n

\tI liked the sound of this song, but its lyrics never quite made
\nsense to me. Why was it encouraging to know that God was watching us
\nfrom far away? Wouldn’t it be better if God were close at hand? In fact,
\nwouldn’t it be even better still if God actually entered our world to
\nhelp bring an end to violence, war, hunger, and suffering?<\/p>\n

\tAccording to Psalm 34:18, God is not watching us from a distance, at
\nleast not when we are hurting. Rather, the psalm affirms: “The LORD is
\nclose to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”<\/p>\n

\tBut isn’t God always close at hand? Isn’t he always with us? So why
\nis it necessary to say that God is close to the brokenhearted?<\/p>\n

\tOne reason is that when our hearts are broken, when we are weighed
\ndown with discouragement and sadness, it can seem as if God is far, far
\naway. I remember times in my life when I wondered if my prayers were
\nsimply bouncing off the ceiling, going nowhere beyond my room, heard by
\nnobody else but me. I had no feeling of God’s presence. And my life
\nsurely didn’t provide much obvious evidence of his grace. In those
\ntimes, I needed the reassurance of Scripture, the promise of God’s
\npresence and care. I needed to know that God was with me even when I
\ndidn’t feel him and even when I doubted him.<\/p>\n

\tBut God isn’t just close to the brokenhearted in the sense of being
\nnearby. He is also emotionally close to those who hurt. God’s own heart
\nis moved by our suffering. The God whom we know in Jesus is a God who
\nfeels our pain even as he also brings comfort. God is close to the
\nbrokenhearted in the sense that God’s own heart is open to ours and is
\nbroken along with ours. Thus, when we are overwhelmed by grief or
\ndespair, we are comforted by the fact that God is not watching us from a
\ndistance, but is with us to join us in our pain and to comfort us.<\/p>\n

\tThe fact that God is not just watching from a distance also reminds
\nus that we are to draw near to those who are hurting. In this world, we
\nare the body of Christ. Through our hands, God will feed the hungry and
\nheal the sick. With our arms, God will embrace the suffering. Thus, the
\nfact that God is close to the brokenhearted encourages us to do the
\nsame, being with those who hurt, opening our hearts to share God’s
\npresence and love with them.<\/p>\n

\tQUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> How do you
\nrespond to the truth that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted? Have
\nthere been times in your life when you were hurting and God seemed far
\naway? Have there been times when God was obviously with you in your
\nsuffering? What helps you to be aware of God’s presence and care?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\nPRAYER:<\/strong> Gracious God, thank you for being near when
\nour hearts are broken. Thank you for not leaving us alone. Thank you for
\nsharing in our pain and suffering, even as you offer supernatural
\ncomfort. Thank you for using your people to communicate your love in
\ntimes of sorrow and fear.<\/p>\n

\tToday I pray for those who are brokenhearted, that they might sense
\nyour presence and care. Make yourself known to them, Lord. Help them to
\nreach out to you and find that you are there.<\/p>\n

\tEven as you are close to the brokenhearted, may I be also. Help me
\nto be a channel of your peace, mercy, and healing. May I not close my
\nheart out of convenience or fear. Rather, may I share in the suffering
\nof others, so that I might also be a source of comfort.<\/p>\n

\tAll praise be to you, O God, because you are close to us when our hearts are broken. You never leave us or forsake us. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/i> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

God is Not Watching Us From a Distance Psalm 34:1-22 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;      he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18 Two decades ago, the song “From a Distance” streaked to the top of the charts. Bette Midler’s moving version of this song not only sold in the millions,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: God is Not Watching Us From a Distance - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1445\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}