Sometimes we can feel like God is far away from us, or not answering us when we call. But it’s not true at all, and we can’t go by feelings. He is very close to us! The Bible even calls Jesus “Immanuel” (Matt. 1:23), which means “God with us.” He’s not “God far away from us,” and He’s not hiding from us—He’s God with us!
Our heavenly Father is an open book, if we choose to read Him. Paul stated in Philippians 3:10 (AMPC): “My determined purpose is that I may know Him” and went on to describe just what that looked like: “… that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.”
We can do that too. God wants us to know Him that intimately, that closely.
There’s a difference between knowing about someone and knowing them. You and I know about our favorite movie star or political figure; we know who they’re married to, where they live, maybe what they like to eat or what their favorite color is.
But we don’t have their personal cell number or know their true motivations and desires. We’ve probably never even met them in person. We don’t really know them like we do someone who is close to us.
Lots of people are like that with God. They know some things about Him, but they don’t really know Him. They don’t know what to expect from Him in a given situation because they’re not intimately acquainted with Him.
Can we get closer to Him? Can we know Him better? I think we can—I think we’re supposed to. Paul had that with God. You can too! That’s the kind of deeper relationship God wants with you. He wants to be closer than you’ve ever imagined. He is ready, willing and able to have the closest relationship possible with you, if you want it.
He wants to be known by you—to have His power and glory and love flowing freely through your life!
Because it takes time to truly know someone. And it takes proximity—you have to be in the same place at the same time, sharing things and going through some things together so that you know what to expect from each other when real-life pressures come along. {eoa}
Karen Jensen Salisbury has been in ministry over 30 years. Formerly a lead pastor, then an instructor at Rhema Bible College, she is currently an itinerant minister and author of several books. Connect with her on her website, karenjensen.org; Facebook; Instagram or Twitter.
This article was excerpted and adapted from Karen’s new book, Closer Than You Ever Imagined: Experiencing the Deep Relationship With God You Always Wanted and appeared originally at karenjensensalisbury.org. To read the first part FREE, preorder your copy or join the Launch Team, click here.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett 
