“Far” is relative.

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I enjoy looking at the beauty of the moon in its various phases. Sometimes it looks close enough to touch, and my mind starts thinking about all the childhood dreams of space travel. The moon is 238,900 miles from the earth but that is not what will keep most of us from ever touching its surface – space ships aren’t as readily available as I thought they would be by now.  Even at this distance, the moon is pretty close when we think of our solar system, or our galaxy, or the universe.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:8-9 English Standard Version

Like the moon, God’s promises are beautiful and sometimes feel close enough to touch. He promises that His joy will be our strength and it is palpable in our newborn infant’s smile. He promises to never leave or forsake us, and we experience His presence in worship like a comfortable blanket. Maybe you think you have heard a specific promise in your life. Maybe that promise seems to get so close at times that you are emboldened to keep asking and looking for it’s evidence.

Then in another instant it all feels as far as can be, completely out of reach, teasing us. We rush to the hospital to be by someone’s bedside. An infant becomes a teenager in rebellion. There are layoffs at work. Suddenly God is like the New Moon. We may know that He is still there but we can’t see Him anymore, and even His impact on our life seems like a distant memory.

There’s a song by Charlie Peacock called “Dear Friend” that uses the words from 2 Peter quoted above. He adds this:

“Keep a watch out, don’t lose faith. He said He would come for you. He’s gonna come for you, you wait and see.”

Copyright David Brukiewa